Sowore leads protest in Abuja
In a swift legal move, the Federal High Court in Abuja has barred Omoyele Sowore — publisher of Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate — along with several organisations and unnamed individuals, from staging protests in key areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including the vicinity of Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
The protest, initially planned for Monday, was to demand the release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the interim order on Friday after hearing an ex-parte application filed by police counsel, Wisdom Madaki, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN).
According to the certified true copy of the court order, signed by Registrar Kasim Muazu and the presiding judge, protesters are temporarily prohibited from assembling near:
Aso Rock Villa
The National Assembly
Force Headquarters
Court of Appeal
Eagle Square
Shehu Shagari Way
This decision came amidst conflicting media reports claiming the court had initially adjourned the matter to October 21.
However, the official court order clarified:
> “The respondents are hereby restrained in the interim from protesting in the following areas… pending the hearing of the motion on notice,” the judge ruled.
“The court hereby abridged time within which the respondents will respond… to cause this ex-parte order to be set aside on Monday, the 20th of October, 2025 at 9:00am.”
The motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, was filed on October 16 and seeks to restrict demonstrations from taking place around sensitive government locations. The suit names five respondents:
1. Omoyele Sowore
2. Sahara Reporters Ltd
3. Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation
4. Take It Back Movement (TIB)
5. “Transformation of Nigeria or any other organisation or individuals acting under same intent”
The affidavit supporting the motion was sworn by Bassey Ibithan, a police officer attached to the Directorate of Legal Services at the Force Headquarters.
Sowore had earlier called for a “peaceful protest” demanding a political solution to Kanu’s prolonged detention and ongoing terrorism trial before Justice James Omotosho.
As pressure mounts both locally and internationally for a resolution to Kanu’s case, this court ruling introduces a new legal dimension to the wave of activism surrounding his detention.
The case resumes Monday, October 20, for further hearing.
NAN
