The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 29 for the hearing of a suit filed by the Nigeria Police Force against activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and other conveners of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held on Monday.
The suit, which was earlier slated for hearing this week, was stalled after the protest disrupted activities around the Federal High Court complex in Abuja, grounding court proceedings for the day.
Justice Mohammed Umar had earlier granted an interim order restraining Sowore and others from staging demonstrations demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in sensitive areas within the capital city.
The order specifically barred protests around the Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The judge also ordered an abridgement of time for the respondents to respond to the application seeking to vacate the interim order. The matter was initially scheduled for October 20, but the protest that day forced an adjournment to October 29.
The police, through their counsel, Wisdom Madaki, had moved the ex-parte motion on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, lists Sowore, Sahara Reporters Limited, and Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation as the 1st to 3rd respondents.
Also joined in the suit are the Take It Back Movement (TIB), the Transformation of Nigeria or any related organisation, and “unknown persons” alleged to have participated in the demonstration.
In an affidavit deposed to by a police officer, Bassey Ibithan, attached to the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, the police argued that the protest could threaten national security if not checked.
Sowore, who contested the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections under the African Action Congress (AAC), had mobilised for what he described as a peaceful protest to demand Kanu’s release.
During the protest, several persons, including Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, were reportedly arrested and are expected to be arraigned before a Kuje Magistrate Court on October 24.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Sowore was whisked away from the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja by armed policemen shortly after attending Kanu’s court session. The officers, acting on alleged instructions from the FCT Commissioner of Police, insisted he accompany them to the command headquarters.
Despite questioning the legality of the arrest and insisting on being accompanied by his lawyer, Sowore was taken away in a police van.(NAN)