Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has vowed to proceed with the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest despite a Federal High Court order restricting demonstrations around key government institutions in Abuja.

The protest, scheduled for Monday, 20 October 2025, seeks the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in custody since his extradition from Kenya in 2021 and faces terrorism charges.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate stated that his team of 115 lawyers would challenge the order once officially served.

“Our legal team will challenge any alleged court order the moment we are served on Monday. But let it be known that nothing can stop this mass movement. October 20 #FreeNnamdiKanuNow remains sacrosanct. We march peacefully, lawfully, and powerfully,” he wrote.

The Nigeria Police Force had earlier warned that all groups must comply with the subsisting order restraining protests near Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.

According to Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin, the directive followed a ruling by Justice M. Umar in the case of Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Omoyele Sowore and Others.

Hundeyin said the police respected citizens’ right to peaceful assembly but stressed that such rights must be exercised “responsibly and within the limits of the law.”

He warned that any individual or group that defied the order or incited violence would face prosecution.

Sowore, however, accused the police of double standards, questioning why similar restrictions had not been imposed on groups protesting against Kanu’s release.

“If a court order truly exists restricting protests near Aso Rock, why hasn’t the police obtained a similar order against those who have protested freely for three days opposing Kanu’s release?” he asked, describing the situation as “glaring hypocrisy.”

Hundeyin added that Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun had ordered the FCT Commissioner of Police to enforce the court order and deploy officers across sensitive locations in Abuja.

The police also cautioned protesters and counter-protesters against provoking violence, assuring residents that adequate security measures were in place to maintain peace and protect lives and property.