By Imam Abdulwaheed
The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 29 for the hearing of the suit filed by the Nigeria Police Force against activist Omoyele Sowore and other conveners of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.
The matter, earlier slated for hearing on October 20, could not proceed due to the protest itself, which disrupted court activities within the premises that day.
Justice Mohammed Umar had earlier issued an interim order restraining Sowore and others from protesting around sensitive areas in Abuja, including the Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way, pending determination of the motion on notice.
The interim order followed an ex parte motion filed by police counsel Wisdom Madaki, representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025.
Respondents in the case include Sowore, Sahara Reporters Ltd, Sahara Reporters Media Foundation, the Take It Back Movement, and other unnamed persons.
In an affidavit supporting the motion, Bassey Ibithan, a police officer attached to the Directorate of Legal Services, claimed the planned protest could threaten national security if not restrained.
Sowore, who contested the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections under the African Action Congress (AAC), had mobilised protesters to demand the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, on October 20.
Several protesters, including Kanu’s counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, were arrested during the demonstration. Ejimakor is expected to be arraigned on October 24 at a Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja.
