The Federal Government of Nigeria has now secured a restraining order against human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner, Omoyele Sowore, and others planning the October 20, 2025, #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest. This development became evident after the court initially refused to grant its ex parte request.
The Legal Observer earlier reported that Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court 5, Abuja, had declined to grant an ex parte injunction filed by government lawyer Wisdom Madaki, who represented the police and the Federal Government.
FG Takes Legal Action to Stop Sowore’s October 20 #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/2202/2025, sought to bar Sowore, the Take It Back (TIB) Movement, RevolutionNow, and “persons unknown” from participating in, organising, or promoting the planned protest demanding the release of detained separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu.
At that earlier sitting, Justice Umar refused to issue the injunction without hearing from the defendants. Instead, he directed that Sowore and others be placed on notice and adjourned the matter to October 21, a day after the scheduled protest.
However, in a dramatic twist on Friday, fresh information obtained by The Legal Observer has now revealed that the presiding judge later granted the order privately after summoning the government’s counsel into his chambers.
“The order was granted… Wisdom just came out of his chambers now,” a source familiar with the proceedings confirmed.
“The judge later took Wisdom into the chambers and granted it privately.”
In light of the new development, the court order now restrains Sowore, the Take It Back Movement, RevolutionNow, and other unidentified persons from holding or mobilising any protest around key locations in Abuja, including the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, the National Assembly complex, the Court of Appeal, and the Unity Fountain.
The Federal Government’s decision to seek a last-minute court order comes amid growing public attention and mobilisation ahead of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest slated for Sunday, October 20.
Omoyele Sowore and other organisers had maintained that the planned protest would be peaceful and aimed at demanding justice and the immediate release of the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, whose prolonged incarceration continues to stir national and international concern.
