A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction prohibiting Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist, and others from organizing or participating in the scheduled October 20 protest asking for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained Indigenous People of Biafra leader.
The order followed an ex parte application filed by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force to prevent the planned demonstration in the Federal Capital Territory.
This came as the United States warned its nationals to stay away from the protest sites in the Federal Capital Territory.
Justice M. G. Umar’s order prohibited Sowore, the Take It Back Movement, the #RevolutionNow group, and “persons unknown” from taking part in, organizing, or promoting the protest.
The suit was marked FHC/ABJ/2202/2025.
Confirming the situation, Sowore, a former presidential candidate, claimed that the ruling was given in chambers after the judge previously declined to grant the same request in open court.
“After initially declining to grant an ex parte motion to stop our planned protest in open court, the judge reportedly granted it in chambers, imposing a ban on protests at Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, and the Unity Fountain in Abuja,” Sowore said in a post on his social media page.
The activist and other civil society groups had planned a #FreeNnamdiKanu protest on Monday, October 20, to demand Kanu’s immediate release from the Department of State Services custody.
The protest, which had acquired enormous popularity online, was supported by a number of prominent personalities, including a former vice president and Senate president.
Organizers had promised to march to Aso Rock Villa, the presidential palace, to urge their demands.
However, the federal government said in its appeal that the planned rally could jeopardize public peace and security, pushing the court to act ahead of time.
Kanu has been in DSS detention since June 2021, facing seven counts of terrorism and treasonable felony.
He was arrested upon his return from the United Kingdom in October 2015 but was released on bail in April 2017 due to health reasons.
Later that year, soldiers raided his residence in Afara Ukwu Ibeku, Abia State, killing several of his followers.
Kanu eventually escaped the nation but was apprehended in Kenya in June 2021 and extradited to Nigeria.
In April 2022, the Federal High Court dismissed eight of the fifteen counts against him, claiming a lack of validity.
Later, in October 2022, the Court of Appeal ordered his immediate release while dismissing the remaining accusations.
However, on December 15, 2023, the Supreme Court reversed that ruling, allowing the federal government to pursue his trial on the remaining counts.
Kanu’s ongoing arrest has caused a growing public outcry and increased calls for his release, culminating in the now-cancelled October 20 rally.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Abuja has issued a security notice to US nationals ahead of the planned #FreeNnamdiKanu demonstration.
According to a statement published on its website on Friday, the US Embassy cautioned that the rally could cause disruptions and violence and advised its nationals to avoid protest zones and limit their travel inside the city.
“The US Embassy in Abuja informs US citizens that the Free Nnamdi Kanu Now protest has called for peaceful demonstrations on Monday, October 20, 2025, in Abuja.
“There may be roadblocks, traffic congestion, and confrontations between police and protesters that could turn violent around Eagle Square and the Central Business District.
“The embassy advises all US citizens to avoid this area and to severely limit all movement throughout the city on Monday, October 20,” the advisory read in part.
The embassy also recommended people take extra precautions, urging that children stay home from school and domestic staff who commute from outside Abuja stay indoors.
It also encouraged Americans in Nigeria to avoid protest areas and huge crowds, exercise caution, stay informed about local news, and keep a low profile in public venues like malls, cinemas, and churches.
While verifying that the consular sections in Abuja and Lagos are still open, the embassy asked US citizens to stay informed via its official website, https://ng.usembassy.gov.
