Court Restrains Sowore, others from protesting near Presidential Villa, key government areas
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim order preventing activist Omoyele Sowore and others from staging protests in certain strategic locations in Abuja, including the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
Justice Mohammed Umar granted the order on Friday, following an ex-parte motion filed by the Nigeria Police Force through its counsel, Wisdom Madaki, representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This contradicts earlier media claims that suggested the case had been adjourned without any restraining directive.
According to the court’s ruling, the protesters are temporarily barred from assembling near the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly complex, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the main application.
A certified true copy of the court’s enrolled order—signed by both the presiding judge and court registrar, Kasim Muazu—was made available on Saturday in Abuja.
The court also fast-tracked the timeline for the respondents to challenge the order. Justice Umar scheduled the hearing for Monday, October 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., allowing the respondents to seek to overturn the interim decision.
This interim ruling was formally issued under the court’s seal on October 17, 2025.
The police’s motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, named five respondents: Omoyele Sowore, Sahara Reporters Ltd, Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation, the Take It Back Movement (TIB) for the Transformation of Nigeria or any affiliated organisation, and unidentified persons.
The motion sought a single relief—an order to restrict protests in key areas of the capital. The affidavit supporting the application was sworn by Bassey Ibithan, a police officer attached to the Directorate of Legal Services at Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Justice Umar ordered that both the motion and the court’s ruling be served on all respondents the same day, October 17.
The matter is now set for hearing on October 20, when the respondents are expected to respond to the motion seeking to maintain the ban.
