Abuja, Nigeria – A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction preventing activist Omoyele Sowore and others from organizing or participating in a planned October 20 demonstration calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The injunction, granted ex parte, was sought by the Federal Government through the Nigeria Police Force, asking the court to prohibit the demonstration within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Justice M.G. Umar presided over the case and barred Sowore, the Take It Back Movement, the #RevolutionNow group, and “persons unknown” from promoting or taking part in the protest at Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, or the Unity Fountain.
In response, Sowore asserted that the injunction was granted secretly after the court had previously declined the motion in open session. He claimed that although the judge initially refused the request publicly, the ruling was later granted in chambers, effectively banning protests around key federal buildings.
Amid mounting tensions, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to steer clear of the protest zones, citing potential risks of unrest.
The demonstration had already attracted significant online and political attention, with backing from some prominent figures, including a former Vice President and a former Senate President. Organizers had planned to march to Aso Rock Villa to demand Kanu’s release.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021. He is facing charges of terrorism and treasonable felony, and his prolonged detention continues to spark debate and activism across Nigeria.
