The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 29, 2025, for the hearing of the case filed by the Nigeria Police Force against activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, alongside other conveners of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.
The case, earlier scheduled for hearing on Monday, was stalled after protesters stormed Abuja, disrupting activities at the Federal High Court.
Justice Mohammed Umar had previously issued an interim order barring Sowore and his co-conveners from staging protests around sensitive areas in the capital city — including Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
The interim order remains in effect pending the determination of the motion on notice, with the matter now shifted to October 29.
The police, through their counsel Wisdom Madaki, filed the ex-parte motion (marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025) on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Respondents in the case include Sowore, Sahara Reporters Ltd, Sahara Reporters Media Foundation, Take It Back Movement (TIB), and other unnamed persons.
In an affidavit, Bassey Ibithan, a police officer from the Directorate of Legal Services, alleged that the protest could “threaten national security” if not restrained.
Meanwhile, the protest, which Sowore described as peaceful, led to the arrest of several participants, including Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, and Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu. The duo are set to be arraigned at a Magistrate Court in Kuje on October 24.
In a dramatic twist, Sowore was arrested again at the Federal High Court premises last Thursday by armed policemen after attending Kanu’s trial.
When confronted, one of the officers told him, “The Commissioner of Police said we should bring you to the office.” Sowore reportedly demanded a formal invitation but was eventually taken away in a police van, accompanied by his lawyer.
