Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist, says he will go ahead with the scheduled #FreeNnamdiKanuNow rally even though a Federal High Court has ordered that protests not be held near important government buildings in Abuja.
Channels TV said that the demonstration, which is set for tomorrow, Monday, October 20, 2025, is asking for the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. He has been in jail since being extradited from Kenya in 2021 and is facing terrorist charges.
The African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate for the 2023 elections said in an X post that his team of 115 lawyers will fight any supposed court order once it was issued. He also said that the protest would go on as scheduled and would stay peaceful, legal, and orderly.
“Our lawyers will fight any court order that is served on us on Monday. But realize that nothing can halt this big movement.
“October 20 #FreeNnamdiKanuNow is still very important. He went on to say, “We march peacefully, lawfully, and strongly.”
The Nigeria Police Force had already told all protest organizations to follow a court order that was still in effect and said that they could not gather near important places including Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the Force Public Relations Officer, said in a statement that the police order came after Justice M. Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an order on Friday in the matter of the Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Omoyele Sowore and four others.
“The Order stops the respondents and anyone else acting on their orders from protesting in and around Aso Rock Villa and its surroundings,” the statement said.
Hundeyin said that the police recognized people’s freedom to peacefully gather, but he said that they had to use that right “responsibly and within the law.”
He said that the Force would keep the peace and safety of the public, and that anyone who broke the law or incited violence would be prosecuted.
“Two Sets of Rules”
Sowore said that the police were using two sets of rules when it came to protecting people’s right to protest across the country.
“I’m glad to see that the Nigeria Police have finally shown some respect for the right to freedom of assembly in the Constitution,” he remarked.
He asked why the same police force hadn’t tried to get a similar court order against parties that had been protesting Nnamdi Kanu’s release for several days.
“Let’s say there really is a court injunction that stops protests near Aso Rock Villa. In that case, the question is: why hasn’t the same police force gotten a similar order against people who have been protesting against Nnamdi Kanu’s release for three days in a row? Sowore asked.
He called the scenario “glaring hypocrisy” and “undeniable double standards.”
Hundeyin said that Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police, has told the FCT Commissioner of Police to make sure that the court decision is followed strictly and that police are visible in vulnerable parts of the capital.
The Force cautioned protestors and counter-protesters not to try to start fights or break the law, saying that those who did would face punishment.
It promised residents that there would be enough protection to keep people and property safe during that time.
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