A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to grant the Nigeria Police Force’s request to halt a planned protest demanding the release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, clearing the way for the demonstration to proceed on Monday at the nation’s seat of power.
Justice Umar rejected an ex parte motion filed by lawyers representing Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, which sought an immediate injunction against activist Omoyele Sowore and the scheduled protest near Aso Rock Villa. The judge ruled that the police must formally serve Sowore with notice of their application and adjourned the matter until Tuesday for both parties to be heard.
The decision marks a significant moment in the ongoing legal battle over the rights of citizens to stage protests near sensitive government installations. Sowore, who is organizing the demonstration under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, welcomed the ruling as a win for democratic freedoms.
Writing on his social media platform đť•Ź on Friday, Sowore stated that the Inspector General had deployed police attorneys to stop the Monday protest through court action, but the judge refused to grant the order without allowing him an opportunity to respond. He confirmed that the demonstration would proceed as scheduled.
The planned march aims to pressure authorities regarding the continued detention and ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, whose legal proceedings have attracted national and international attention. Kanu leads the Indigenous People of Biafra, an organization that has been outlawed by the Nigerian government.
Legal observers note that the police’s court maneuver represented an attempt to preempt what authorities likely view as a potentially volatile gathering near the Presidential Villa. By refusing the ex parte application, Justice Umar ensured that any restrictions on the protest would only come after proper legal consideration of arguments from both sides.
Sowore, a longtime activist and former presidential candidate, has emphasized that the October 20 protest will be peaceful and lawful. He characterized the demonstration as an exercise of constitutional rights aimed at highlighting what he describes as the unjust detention of the IPOB leader.
The protest is now set to take place on Monday unless Tuesday’s court hearing produces a different outcome. The development raises the possibility of tensions between demonstrators and security forces deployed around the Presidential Villa, one of Nigeria’s most heavily guarded locations.
Authorities have not yet publicly commented on their security preparations for the planned demonstration or whether they will seek alternative legal avenues to restrict the protest following the court’s initial refusal.
