₦airaland Forum

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an interim injunction restraining human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, and others from organising or participating in the planned October 20 protest calling for the release of the detained Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The order followed an ex parte application filed by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force, seeking to prevent the planned demonstration in the Federal Capital Territory.

This was as the United States cautioned its citizens to stay away from the protest locations in the Federal Capital Territory

In the ruling delivered by Justice M. G. Umar, the court barred Sowore, the Take It Back Movement, the #RevolutionNow group, and “persons unknown” from participating in, organising, or promoting the protest.


The suit was marked FHC/ABJ/2202/2025.

Confirming the development, Sowore, a former presidential candidate, alleged that the order was issued in chambers after the judge had earlier declined to grant the same request in open court.

“After initially declining to grant an ex parte motion to stop our planned protest in open court, the judge reportedly granted it in chambers, imposing a ban on protests at Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, and the Unity Fountain in Abuja,” Sowore said in a post on his social media page.

The activist and other civil society groups had announced plans to stage a #FreeNnamdiKanu protest on Monday, October 20, demanding Kanu’s immediate release from the custody of the Department of State Services.

The protest, which had gained significant traction online, was endorsed by several political figures, including a former Vice President and a former Senate President.

Organisers had vowed to march to the Aso Rock Villa, the seat of presidential power, to press home their demands.

The Federal Government, however, argued in its application that the planned demonstration could breach public peace and security, urging the court to intervene preemptively.

Kanu has been in DSS custody since June 2021, facing a seven-count bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony.

He was first arrested in October 2015 upon his return from the United Kingdom and later released on bail in April 2017 on health grounds.

His trial was disrupted later that year when soldiers invaded his home in Afara Ukwu Ibeku, Abia State, leading to the deaths of some of his followers.

NgeneUkwenu:
I pity the souls of the innocent ones would die for the Albino terrorist on Monday.

Kanu you must face trials and account for the souls of Ndigbo, you and your terrorist group known as ESN killed in Alaigbo in the past 6 years.

NgeneUkwenu:
I pity the souls of the innocent ones would die for the Albino terrorist on Monday.

Kanu you must face trials and account for the souls of Ndigbo, you and your terrorist group known as ESN killed in Alaigbo in the past 6 years.

gidgiddy:
I visited Omoyeles page and he had said that that this news is fake

zero8zero:
Is Sowore the court?

Ofunaofu:
What you should have asked is whether the purported injunction was supposed to be issued in the judge's chambers/office, as was done in this case

NgeneUkwenu:
I pity the souls of the innocent ones would die for the Albino terrorist on Monday.

Kanu you must face trials and account for the souls of Ndigbo, you and your terrorist group known as ESN killed in Alaigbo in the past 6 years.

malali:
The Federal Government’s caution on this matter is entirely justified. Nnamdi Kanu’s detention isn’t about silencing dissent, it’s about preventing chaos. His past rhetoric and directives led to violence, the deaths of security operatives, and destruction of property across the Southeast. Releasing him now, without any genuine show of remorse or commitment to peaceful dialogue, would risk reigniting those tensions.

President Tinubu must not repeat the mistakes of appeasement. Nigeria is still healing from years of division, and national unity cannot be traded for political sentiment. Until Kanu publicly renounces separatist violence and proves he’s ready to pursue his cause through lawful, peaceful means, keeping him in custody remains a matter of national security, not personal vendetta. Allowing his release prematurely would be a direct threat to the safety of millions and could undermine the efforts of the government to restore order in the region.

malali:
The Federal Government’s caution on this matter is entirely justified. Nnamdi Kanu’s detention isn’t about silencing dissent, it’s about preventing chaos. His past rhetoric and directives led to violence, the deaths of security operatives, and destruction of property across the Southeast. Releasing him now, without any genuine show of remorse or commitment to peaceful dialogue, would risk reigniting those tensions.

President Tinubu must not repeat the mistakes of appeasement. Nigeria is still healing from years of division, and national unity cannot be traded for political sentiment. Until Kanu publicly renounces separatist violence and proves he’s ready to pursue his cause through lawful, peaceful means, keeping him in custody remains a matter of national security, not personal vendetta. Allowing his release prematurely would be a direct threat to the safety of millions and could undermine the efforts of the government to restore order in the region.

gidgiddy:
This is a classic case of someone who claims to be intelligent, but had no problems with the Nigerian security forces shooting and killing unarmed peaceful protesters

Believeintruth:
Nigeria is not healing. When a NURTE executive is threatening people who do not vote for Tinubu. Let us stop living in deceit.

Kewekubosineh:
But Bandits and insurgents parading everywhere in the North are not security risk, but KANU is?
We are not serious in this country. We are not ready for progress and national development.
Someone felt pained by seeing his people being mistreated in the polity and took up the struggle,and he's being incarcerated. But the roaming Bandits in the North are set free.
Yes, KANU might have gone wrong in his struggle by manner of actions and utterances.
But he could be forgiven for sake of unity and national cohesion. Not perpetual incarceration.

malali:
Imagine Buhari winning in Anambra — yet Peter Obi defeated Tinubu in Lagos and there was no chaos. All these complaints don’t hold water. Nnamdi Kanu simply doesn’t deserve to be freed.

Believeintruth:
Wait hold on, you see you are not a good person at all. Let me ask you how well did Buhari convince people in Anambra to vote him? Shebi people will vote for you once you convince them that you are right for the job. Even Yorubas in Lagos low key do not like Tinubu especially the elites, the vote in Lagos was a clear testament to it. Please be honest and sincere with yourself. I am not even commenting on NK's case, but if people like Igboho and Gumu are walking free then it is an injustice to hold on to NK unless there is an inherent fear of the ghost of Biafra hunting the country.

Kingosytex:
Igbo political class are the ones holding MNK in that dungeon, he would be out if they want to.
Do I blame them? No, they are protecting their businesses.
MNK's claim to know it all and not giving room for dissenting views is a big problem.
MNK's flaunting of the ESN which metamorphosed to BLA, an offshoot of UGM killed every sympathy most people had for him.
The damage the said freedom fighters have caused in Imo especially Okigwe is terrible and will take years to be corrected.

MNK isn't totally wrong as all these stem from the fact that the Igbos are being marginalized. Insecurity here and there, herders trying to overrun and take over people's ancestral lands while the government sit, fold their arms, and do absolutely nothing.

Kewekubosineh:
But Bandits and insurgents parading everywhere in the North are not security risk, but KANU is?

I are not serious in this country. I are not ready for progress and national development.

Someone felt pained by seeing his people being mistreated in the polity and took up the struggle,and he's being incarcerated. But the roaming Bandits in the North are set free.

Yes, KANU might have gone wrong in his struggle by manner of actions and utterances.
But he could be forgiven for sake of unity and national cohesion. Not perpetual incarceration.

Believeintruth:
Wait hold on, you see you are not a good person at all. Let me ask you how well did Buhari convince people in Anambra to vote him? Shebi people will vote for you once you convince them that you are right for the job. Even Yorubas in Lagos low key do not like Tinubu especially the elites, the vote in Lagos was a clear testament to it. Please be honest and sincere with yourself. I am not even commenting on NK's case, but if people like Igboho and Gumu are walking free then it is an injustice to hold on to NK unless there is an inherent fear of the ghost of Biafra hunting the country.