Last Minute Attempt To Stop ‘Free Nnamdi KanuNow’ Protest Fails

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had deployed police lawyers to court, seeking an ex parte order to stop activist and protest convener, Omoyele Sowore, from staging the rally near the Aso Rock Villa.

However, Justice Umar of the Federal High Court declined to grant the motion, refusing to restrain the protest without hearing from the opposing party. Instead, the judge directed the police to properly serve Sowore with their application and adjourned the case until Tuesday for a full hearing.

Reacting to the ruling, Sowore hailed the decision as a victory for civil rights and vowed that the protest would go on as planned.

In a post on his X handle on Friday, he wrote:

“IG of PoliceNG Kayode Egbetokun dispatched police lawyers to sue me, in an effort to halt the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest scheduled for Aso Rock Villa on Monday.

However, the judge, Justice Umar of Federal High Court in Abuja, refused to grant the ex parte motion, instead instructing him to serve me notice and adjourning the case until Tuesday for a proper hearing.”

The protest, organised under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, seeks to highlight the prolonged detention and legal plight of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

Observers have described the police move as a legal strategy to prevent a sensitive demonstration near the seat of power. But with the adjournment, the Monday march remains legally unrestrained, setting the stage for what could become a high-stakes standoff between protesters and security agencies around the Presidential Villa.

The outcome of Tuesday’s hearing will determine the next legal steps regarding the protest’s status.

Sowore, who had earlier announced October 20 as the protest date, described it as a “historic” march on the Aso Rock Villa. He also assured that the demonstration would be “peaceful and lawful,” emphasizing its sole aim: to demand the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu.