In a major turn of events ahead of a planned nationwide demonstration, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Saturday issued an interim injunction restraining prominent human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and several allied groups from organizing or participating in the much-anticipated October 20 protest calling for the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu. The court’s ruling, announced in chambers, comes after the Federal Government sought judicial intervention through the Nigeria Police Force, arguing that the protest posed a threat to public order and national security.
The order, delivered under case number FHC/ABJ/2202/2025, bars Sowore, his movement “Take It Back,” and other protest groups, including “#RevolutionNow,” from planning, promoting, or participating in any demonstration linked to the #FreeNnamdiKanu campaign across key locations in the Federal Capital Territory such as Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, and Unity Fountain. Justice M.G. Umar, presiding over the case, initially declined a similar request in open court but granted the order after reverting to chambers — a move Sowore described as “opaque and alarming.”
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and vocal critic of the government, responded forcefully, alleging that the court’s decision was “politically influenced” and intended to silence dissent. Despite the injunction, he reiterated his belief that the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest was a legitimate exercise of citizens’ rights under Nigeria’s constitution. Civil society organizations had already rallied behind the planned October 20 demonstration, which was expected to attract tens of thousands of supporters, including several influential political figures.
Authorities, however, argued that the protest would disrupt public peace and could potentially incite violence, pointing to past large‐scale demonstrations that turned chaotic. They urged the judiciary to act preemptively to avoid a repeat of the 2024 nationwide “End Bad Governance protests,” which led to widespread unrest, with security forces blockading major roads and imposing curfews in major cities.
Adding complexity to the situation, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) issued a strong statement distancing itself from the protest, accusing Sowore and others of politicizing Kanu’s detention and attempting to exploit students for a partisan agenda. NANS President Olushola Oladoja declared that the group would not mobilize any student participation, emphasizing that they viewed Kanu’s case as a legal matter before the courts, not a matter for public demonstrations.
Nnamdi Kanu has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021, following his extraordinary rendition from Kenya. He faces a seven-count charge including terrorism and treasonable felony — accusations he has consistently denied. Earlier litigation had resulted in some charges being struck out by a Federal High Court, only for the Supreme Court of Nigeria to overturn that ruling, enabling the prosecution to proceed.
Civil liberties groups and international observers have repeatedly decried Kanu’s prolonged detention, saying it undermines judicial process and human rights norms. The now‐halted protest was envisioned as a fresh attempt to apply public pressure on authorities for his release. Organisers had planned a march from major gathering points in Abuja to the statehouse, a symbolically charged move designed to underscore their demand.
As the nation awaits a likely appeal against the injunction, the story has reignited debates about civil liberties, the balance between security and freedom, and the lengths to which the government will go to quell opposition protests. With Kanu’s trial ongoing, the cancellation of the October 20 demonstration might only delay — not defuse — one of Nigeria’s most deeply contested legal and political battles.
