The Federal High Court in Abuja, has fixed October 29, for hearing in police suit against Omoyele Sowore and other conveners of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held on Monday in the Nation’s capital,
Justice Mohammed Umar had earlier issued an interim order restraining Sowore and others from staging protests demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in certain sensitive areas of Abuja.
The order barred demonstrations around the Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
The interim order followed an ex-parte motion moved by police counsel, Wisdom Madaki, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Friday. In the motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, the police listed Sowore, Sahara Reporters Limited, and Sahara Reporters Media Foundation as the first to third respondents.
Also joined in the suit were the Take It Back Movement (TIB), “for the Transformation of Nigeria or any form of organisation or any other person(s) acting either by express or implied instruction”, and other unknown persons identified as the fourth and fifth respondents.
In an affidavit supporting the motion, a police officer, Bassey Ibithan, attached to the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, claimed that allowing the protest to go on could pose a threat to national security.
Sowore had mobilised for what he described as a peaceful protest to demand Kanu’s release. The IPOB leader is facing a seven-count amended charge of treason and terrorism preferred against him by the Federal Government. He has been in the detention facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 27, 2021, when he was extradited to Nigeria after he was re-arrested in Kenya on June 19, 2021.
On Monday, Kanu’s brother, his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and 10 others were arrested during the demonstration and are expected to be arraigned on Friday, October 24, at a Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja.
- NAN