(DDM) – In a landmark ruling that has stirred public debate, the Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the constitutional right of citizens, including human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, to stage peaceful protests across designated areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including near the Aso Rock Presidential Villa and the National Assembly complex.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the ruling followed an earlier ex-parte motion filed by the Federal Government seeking to restrict the protest planned by Sowore and other civic groups under the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow campaign.
The planned demonstration aims to pressure authorities to release the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) despite multiple court orders granting him bail.
Justice Mohammed Umar, who presided over the matter, clarified that the right to peaceful assembly remains protected under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, provided such gatherings do not endanger public safety or national security.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, had been brought before the court by police counsel Wisdom Madaki, acting on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), seeking to prohibit demonstrations near critical state institutions such as Aso Rock, the Force Headquarters, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
However, in his latest directive, Justice Umar held that while the government may regulate protests to ensure public order, it cannot outrightly ban them, especially when protesters have pledged to conduct themselves peacefully.
The court’s decision was hailed by civil rights advocates as a victory for democracy and civic freedom, reaffirming that protest is a legitimate form of political expression in any democratic society.
A copy of the certified court ruling, obtained by DDM, indicated that protesters could proceed with their planned demonstrations under the condition that they maintain peace and comply with security advisories.
According to the order, the police were directed to provide protection and coordination rather than suppression of the march.
Sowore, who doubles as convener of the Take It Back Movement (TIB), had earlier described the protest as a non-violent call for justice, urging Nigerians to stand up against prolonged detentions and disregard for judicial rulings.
He said the campaign’s purpose was not only to demand Kanu’s freedom but also to draw attention to human rights violations and political intolerance in Nigeria.
The protest, initially scheduled for Monday, is expected to feature hundreds of participants, including youth groups, lawyers, and civil society activists demanding Kanu’s release.
Sowore had earlier stated that “no democracy can thrive where citizens are afraid to speak or assemble peacefully,” calling on the government to honour its legal obligations.
Observers note that the case adds a new legal dimension to the intensifying national and international calls for the Nigerian government to resolve Kanu’s detention through a political solution rather than prolonged litigation.
Legal analysts told DDM that the court’s clarification represents a major reaffirmation of civil liberties, coming at a time when civic spaces across Nigeria face increasing restrictions.
The next hearing has been set for Monday, October 20, 2025, where both parties are expected to argue the scope of permissible protest zones within Abuja.
As anticipation builds, rights advocates have described the ruling as a bold reminder that freedom of expression and assembly remain cornerstones of Nigeria’s democracy, not privileges to be granted at will by the state.
Meanwhile, the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow campaign continues to gather momentum both locally and abroad, amplifying calls for an end to what supporters describe as an “unjust and politically motivated detention.”