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Nnamdi Kanu: Court bars Sowore, others from protesting around Aso Rock
By Agency Report
The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, and others from protesting in some areas in Abuja, including the Aso Rock Villa, on Monday for the release of detained Nnamdi Kanu.
The court also barred the protesters from any where close to the villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
Justice Mohammed Umar, on Friday, granted the ex-parte motion moved by the police lawyer, Wisdom Madaki, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, FRN, contrary to the earlier media reports in circulation.
The certified true copy of the enrolled order, signed by the court Registrar, Kasim Muazu, and the presiding judge, Justice Umar, was made available to NAN on Saturday in Abuja.
The judge also made an order of abridgement of time “within which the respondents will respond to the application on notice to cause the ex-parte order be set aside on Monday, the 20th of October, 2025 at 9.00am.”
This was also contrary to some media reports that Justice Umar adjourned the matter until Oct. 21 for the parties to appear in court.
“The respondents are hereby restrained in the interim from protesting in the following Areas; Aso Rock Villa, or anywhere close to Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and on Shehu Shagari way pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
“The court hereby abridged time within which the respondents will respond to the application on notice to cause this ex-parte order be set aside on Monday, the 20th of October, 2025 at 9.00am.
“The order of this court together with the motion on notice be served on the respondents today, Friday, the 17th day of October, 2025,” the judge ordered.
Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until Oct. 20 for hearing of the motion on notice.
“ISSUED AT ABUJA under the Hand of the Presiding Judge, Honourable Justice M. G. Umar, and the Seal of the Court this 17th day of October, 2025,” the enrolled order read.
NAN reports that in the ex-parte motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, the police, on behalf of FRN, sued five respondents.
They are Omoyele Sowore, Sahara Reporters Ltd, Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation, Take It Back Movement (TIB), for the Transformation of Nigeria Or Any Form of Organisation or Any Other Person(s) Acting Either Express or Implied Instruction or Any Other Organisation or Group With the Like Intention; and Unknown Persons as 1st to 5th respondents respectively.
The motion dated and filed on Oct. 16 sought one relief.
“An order of this honourable court restraining or ban protesters from protesting in the following areas, Aso Rock Villa or anywhere close to Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari way.
“And for such further orders as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”
The affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion was deposed to by Bassey Ibithan, a police officer attached to Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
NAN reports that Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, had planned to organised the protest for the release of Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Mr Sowore, the 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of African Action Congress, ACC, had begun mobilisation for what he called a planned peaceful protest against the detention Kanu.
However, there have also been ongoing calls for political solution to Kanu’s trial who is facing alleged terrorism offence at the Federal High Court before Justice James Omotosho.
NAN
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a severe crisis, with a faction loyal to Minister Nyesom Wike expelling several high-ranking members, including Governors Seyi Makinde, Bala Mohammed, and Dauda Lawal, as well as former Chairman of the Board of Trustees Senator Adolphus Wabara and recently elected National Chairman Kabiru Turaki.
This move follows the controversial PDP national convention in Ibadan, where Wike and his loyalists were expelled from the party.
The expelled members are accused of anti-party activities, disobedience to court orders, and conduct bringing the party into disrepute.
The factional National Executive Committee also dissolved state executive councils in Oyo, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Lagos, and Ekiti States, directing caretaker committees and fresh congresses.
This crisis has sparked concerns about the party’s future, with some analysts describing it as “heading to Golgotha”.
The PDP’s internal conflicts have led to defections, weakened its opposition stance, and raised questions about its viability in future elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party faction loyal to FCT minister Nyesom Wike has taken over the party’s national secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
The takeover of the party’s secretariat was reportedly ahead of a parallel meeting scheduled for the same venue by the faction that held its national convention in Ibadan over the weekend.
Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the pro-Wike faction, arrived at the secretariat with some members of his group.
Shortly after, members of the Taminu Turaki-led faction also arrived but were blocked from entering.
Reports indicate that two governors from the Turaki faction forced their way into the building.
Security operatives responded by firing gunshots and releasing teargas to disperse remaining members, triggering panic and confusion as attendees scrambled for safety.
While speaking to newsmen before the arrival of the Turaki faction, Anyanwu described the security presence as routine, aimed at maintaining order during Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings. He confirmed that his faction was prepared to hold the meetings as scheduled
US Senator Ted Cruz is taking further action regarding the alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria.
This follows President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” due to widespread violence and mass murder of Christians.
Trump also warned that the US military might intervene to eliminate Islamic extremists responsible for the killings.
Cruz plans to impose targeted sanctions on Nigerian government officials aiding terrorism.
He stated, “The next step is putting targeted sanctions on particular government officials; government officials who are complicit in what is happening.”
Cruz highlighted that 12 Nigerian states have Sharia and blasphemy laws, which are used to persecute Christians.
Cruz’s Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act aims to hold accountable Nigerian officials facilitating Islamist jihadist violence and enforcing blasphemy laws.
The bill would impose sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on these officials.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has denied allegations of Christian persecution, attributing violence to complex security issues and criminality.
Cruz, however, claimed the government is aware of policies fueling persecution but chooses media manipulation over accountability.
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