By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until October 29, the hearing of the suit filed by the Nigeria Police Force against Omoyele Sowore and other conveners of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held on Monday.
Our correspondent reports that the matter, which was slated for hearing on Monday, could not proceed as the court’s activities were disrupted by the same protest it was meant to address.
Justice Mohammed Umar had earlier issued an interim order restraining Sowore and others from staging protests demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in sensitive areas of the Federal Capital Territory.
The judge barred the demonstrators from gathering around Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
Justice Umar also abridged the time within which the respondents could file their responses, fixing October 20, 2025, for the hearing of the motion on notice before later adjourning to October 29.
The interim order followed an ex-parte motion filed by police counsel, Wisdom Madaki, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN).
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, lists Sowore, Sahara Reporters Limited, and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as the 1st to 3rd respondents.
Others joined include the Take It Back Movement (TIB), “Transformation of Nigeria or any form of organisation or person(s) acting under their instruction,” and unknown persons, as 4th and 5th respondents respectively.
In an affidavit supporting the motion, Bassey Ibithan, a police officer with the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, claimed that the planned protest could threaten national security if not restrained.
Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), had mobilised citizens for what he described as a peaceful protest to demand Kanu’s release on October 20.
Several protesters, including Kanu’s special counsel Aloy Ejimakor, were reportedly arrested and are scheduled for arraignment on October 24 at the Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Sowore himself was picked up by armed policemen at the premises of the Federal High Court, shortly after appearing in court for Kanu’s case.
Eyewitnesses said the officers insisted on taking him to the FCT Police Command, citing orders from the Commissioner of Police.
When Sowore demanded a formal letter of invitation and insisted his lawyer must accompany him, he was nonetheless taken away in a police van.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
