#FreeNnamdiKanu: Abuja Court Lockdown Disrupts Police Case Against Protesters

Court activities at the Federal High Court in Abuja came to a complete halt on Monday as the hearing in the police suit against Omoyele Sowore and other conveners of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest was stalled.

According to VANGUARD, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as at 9:30 a.m., all 13 courtrooms inside the high-rise building were under lock and key. Only a few court workers, lawyers, litigants and private security personnel were seen, and no judge was present within the premises.

There was an overwhelming security presence around key locations including Gana Street, Shehu Shagari Way near the Nicon Hilton Hotel, the National Assembly Junction, Federal Secretariat area, and routes leading to the Asokoro District and Presidential Villa.

Water cannons were sighted, vehicle movement was restricted, and many pedestrians were barred from accessing the area. In some locations, police were seen firing tear gas.

Justice Mohammed Umar had earlier fixed Monday for the respondents in an ex parte motion filed by the police, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), to appear and show cause why an interim order granted should not be vacated.

Justice Umar had restrained Mr. Sowore, the 1st respondent, and others from organising protests in sensitive areas of Abuja, including the Aso Rock Villa, to demand the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The interim order also barred protests near the National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

Other respondents named in the order include Sahara Reporters Ltd, Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation, Take It Back Movement (TIB), the Transformation of Nigeria or any organisation or individual acting under similar instructions, and unknown persons as 2nd to 5th respondents.

The ex parte motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, was granted on Friday after being moved by police counsel Wisdom Madaki on behalf of the FRN.

In an affidavit supporting the motion, Police Officer Bassey Ibithan, attached to the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, claimed that failure to grant the order could “threaten national security.”

Justice Umar had also granted an order of abridgement of time “within which the respondents will respond to the application on notice to cause the ex parte order to be set aside on Monday, the 20th of October 2025 at 9.00am.”

The hearing was, however, stalled as no courtroom was in session.

Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), had planned a peaceful protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu. Sowore claimed the protest was part of the “ongoing call for a political solution to Kanu’s trial.”

Kanu is currently facing terrorism-related charges before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.