Court reschedules Sowore’s #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest case to Oct 29th

The Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled the hearing of the police suit against Omoyele Sowore and other organizers of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest to October 29

The case was originally set for October 20 to hear the respondents in an ex parte motion to show cause why an interim order restraining the protest should be vacated. However, the hearing was stalled as the protest disrupted court activities that day.

Justice Mohammed Umar had earlier issued the interim order barring Sowore and other protesters from demonstrating in sensitive areas of Abuja, including Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the motion’s hearing. He also granted an abridgment of time for the respondents to respond, originally scheduled for October 20.

The ex parte motion was filed by police lawyer Wisdom Madaki on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The police sued Sowore, Sahara Reporters Ltd, and Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation as the first to third respondents, while the Take It Back Movement (TIB) for the Transformation of Nigeria, any organization or person acting with express or implied instruction, and unknown persons were listed as the fourth and fifth respondents.

In the supporting affidavit, police officer Bassey Ibithan, from the Directorate of Legal Services, warned that the protest could threaten national security if allowed to proceed.

Sowore, a former presidential candidate under the African Action Congress (ACC) in 2019 and 2023, had organized what he described as a peaceful protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Several people were reportedly arrested during the demonstration, including Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, who is scheduled for arraignment on October 24 at the Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja.

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