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  • UPDATED: Court grants bail to Sowore, 13 others at N500,000 each

    UPDATED: Court grants bail to Sowore, 13 others at N500,000 each

    A Magistrate’s Court in Kuje in  Abuja has granted bail to politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, and 13 others arrested during Monday’s protest staged by them in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) intended to compel the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing terrorism trial.

    They were arraigned on Friday before Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’id on two First Information Report (FIRs) filed by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    Named along with Sowore in the FIR are:
    Barrister Aloy Ejimakor ( a member of the legal team sacked by Kanu on Thursday), Prince Emmanuel Kanu (said to be Kanu’s relative), Joshua Emmanuel and Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi.

    Others are: Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua,  Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand,  Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma and
    Chima Onuchukwu.

    The 13 are charged with criminal conspiracy, disobedience of order promulgated by public officer, inciting disturbance and disturbance of public peace.

    The police said the offences are contrary to sections 152, 114,and 113 of the Penal Code Law.

    The FIRs read:

    *That on 20 day of October, 2025, you (1). Barrister Aliyu Ejimakor, (2). Prince Emmnauel Kanu, (3). Joshua Emmanuel, (4). Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi, (5). Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, (6). Clinton Chimeneze, (7). Gabriel Joshua, (8). Isiaka Husseini, (9). Onyekachi Ferdinand. (10). Amadi Prince, (11). Edison Ojisom, and (12). Godwill Obiama, all male adults of FCT Abuja were arrested by a team of security agents in different locations within FCT while involving yourselves in inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order, denying other citizens the freedom of movement, disrupting free flow of traffic while chanting war songs and requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing lawful trial at the Federal High Court in a manner that threatens national security.
    You thereby committed the above mentioned offences.

    *That on 20th day of October, 2025, you Chima Onuchukwu male adult of Ebonyi state, was arrested by a team of police officers at gate 8, Aso Villa, FCT Abuja, while carrying placards written, “Free Nnamdi Kanu” and inciting disturbance, and breach of public peace in disobedience to a court order, and denying others citizens the freedom of movement, disrupting free flow of traffic while chanting war songs and requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is undergoing lawful trial at the Federal High Court in a manner that threatens national security. You thereby committed the above mentioned offences.

    They pleaded not guilty when their alleged offences were read to them during Friday’s proceedings.

    Shortly after, their lawyers argued their bail, which the court granted, but with conditions.

    Each of them was granted bail at N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    They are each, required to submit their passports, present a verified National Identification Number (NIN) and a three-year tax clearance certificate as part of the conditions.

    The court has adjourned further hearing till December 15.

    Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 27 for the arraignment of Sowore and two others on a separate charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) in which he is accused of making false claim against President Bola Tinubu by calling him a criminal.

    The two other defendants listed in the five-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 are X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp.

    The charge was filed on September 16, few days after an earlier request by the DSS on Facebook and X, the platforms allegedly deployed by Sowore for the said  false claim, to pull the misleading message down.

    In the charge, Sowore, a serial presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is accused of contravening the provisions of the the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Criminal Code Act.

    Read Also: Omoyele Sowore: Making business of dissent

    Their arraignment was to be held before Justice Mohammed Umar on September 30, but was postponed to October 27 when a defence lawyer, Marshall Abubakar told the court that his  client was not yet served with the charge sheet as required.

    Abubakar, who represented Sowore noted that one of the defendants – X Incorp – was not represented by either a lawyer or an official and  claimed that his client was not yet served with the charge.

    The defence lawyer contented that, in a criminal case, it is mandatory that all the defendants are present in court for a proper arraignment to take place. 

    At that point, the judge, Justice Umar looked through the case-file and confirmed that X and Meta were served with the charge electronically, through their email addresses.

    On noting that Sowore was yet to be served personally (as required), the prosecuting lawyer sought the court’s permission to serve Sowore (who was in court) during the proceedings, a request the judge granted.

    Sowore’s lawyer however, prayed for an adjournment to allow his client, who was just served the charge, adequate time and opportunity to prepare for his defense as provided under Section 282(6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    Counts in the charge read:

    *That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male on or about the 25th day of August, 2025 did use your official X handle page, @Yele Sowore, to send out a message/ tweet as : ‘This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly,’ which you know the said message to be false but posted it for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals, who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and CommanderinChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024. 

    *That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult male on or about the 26th day of August, 2025 did use your official Facebook page, Omoyele Sowore, to send out a message/ post as : ‘This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly,’ which you know the said message/post to be false, but posted it for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order in the country, especially among individuals who hold divergent views on the personality of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.

    *That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male on or about the 25th day of August, 2025 using the instrumentality of X, via your official X account @Yele Sowore, did knowingly published defamatory material on your online platform viz: ‘This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly,’ against the personality and reputation of the President and Commander _inChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act. 

    *That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male on or about the 26th day of August, 2025 using the instrumentatity of Facebook, via your official Facebook account Omoyele Sowore, did knowingly published defamatory material on your online platform viz: ‘This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly,’ against the personality and reputation of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act. 

    *That you, Omoyele Sowore, adult, male on or about the 26th day of August, 2025 with intent to cause public fear and disturbance, published false information on your official X and Facebook accounts @Yele Sowore, respectively, against the personality and reputation of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 59 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under the same Act. 

  • BREAKING: Court grants Sowore, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, others N500,000 bail

    BREAKING: Court grants Sowore, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, others N500,000 bail

    A Magistrate’s Court in the Kuje area of Abuja has granted bail to former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the legal team which represented the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    The court also granted bail to Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu and 10 others.

    The court, presided over by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’I’d issued the bail order on Friday after the defendants were arraigned on charges bordering on unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.

    They were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.

    All 13 defendants were charged with inciting public disturbance and breach of peace in connection with the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held on Monday, October 20, in Abuja.

    Read Also: Omoyele Sowore: Making business of dissent

    Ejimakor, Emmanuel, and ten other defendants were arrested during the protest and later remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

    Sowore, however, was taken into custody on October 23 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he had gone to show solidarity during Kanu’s terrorism trial.  

    Details shortly…

  • #FreeNnamdiKanuNow: Court adjourns police suit against Sowore, others

    #FreeNnamdiKanuNow: Court adjourns police suit against Sowore, others

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Oct. 29 for hearing of the suit filed by the police against Omoyele Sowore and other conveners of #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held on Monday.

    The suit, which was earlier scheduled for Monday for the respondents in the ex-parte motion to show cause why the interim order made by the court should be vacated, could not go on.

    The hearing was stalled as a result of the protest which held same day, crippling the court activities at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Mohammed Umar had made an interim order, restraining Sowore and others from protesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu in some sensitive areas in Abuja.

    Justice Umar barred the protesters from demonstrating around the Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

    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,” before adjourning until Oct. 20 for hearing of the motion on notice.

    The order followed the ex-parte motion moved by the police lawyer, Wisdom Madaki, on behalf of Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), on Friday.

    The Police Force, in the ex-parte motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, had sued Sowore, Sahara Reporters Ltd, and Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation as 1st to 3rd respondents.

    The force also joined 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 4th to 5th respondents respectively.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Police pick up Sowore at Court premises

    In the affidavit in support of the ex-parte motion deposed to by Bassey Ibithan, a police officer attached to Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja, the officer averred that if not granted, the protest might threaten the national security.

    NAN reports that Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, had planned to organised the protest for the release of Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Sowore, the 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of African Action Congress (ACC), had mobilised for what he called a planned peaceful protest against Kanu’s detention on Oct. 20.

    A number of persons were reported to have been arrested during the protest, including Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, who are billed for arraignment on Oct. 24 at a Kuje Magistrate Court in Abua.

    Meanwhile, Sowore was, earlier on Thursday, whisked away from the precincts of the Federal High Court in Abuja by armed policemen, shortly after he made appearance for Kanu, whose case was heard in court.

    Sowore was accosted by the security operatives who insisted he must move with them to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.

    When he asked what his offence was, one of the officers explained that they were executing an order from the commissioner of police.

    “The commissioner of police said we should bring you to the office,” the officer added.

    Even though he queried the absence of a letter of invitation to him, Sowore, who maintained that his lawyer must accompany him, was taken away in a police van.

    (NAN)

  • JUST IN: Police pick up Sowore at Court premises

    JUST IN: Police pick up Sowore at Court premises

    Former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore,  was on Thursday arrested by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Command. 

    Finding revealed that Sowore was picked up within the Federal High Court where he had appeared in court. 

    According to information obtained by THE NATION the arrest was ordered by the FCT Commissioner of Police. 

    Sowore, who was scheduled to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite over what he described as a “bogus and farcical” charge of alleged forgery of a police wireless message, filed under the instruction of the “illegal Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun”, was informed at the court that the judge would not be sitting.

    Read Also: Sowore: When activism becomes complicity

    A source disclosed that a police officer approached Sowore, informing him that he was under arrest in connection with Monday’s protest. 

    Members of his legal team, led by human rights lawyer Tope Temokun, immediately confronted the officers, demanding to know the reason for the sudden arrest.

    However, the police insisted they were acting on “direct instruction” from the Commissioner and proceeded to escort Sowore into a waiting vehicle.

    Details Shortly… 

  • Justice belongs in courts, not on streets, Dare tells Sowore

    Justice belongs in courts, not on streets, Dare tells Sowore

    Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Chief Sunday Dare, has cautioned activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, against using street protests to influence judicial proceedings, insisting that matters of justice are resolved in courtrooms, not through public agitation.

    Reacting to Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja led by Sowore, Dare, in a post on his verified X handle, @SundayDareSD, described such demonstrations as “counterproductive” and inimical to the rule of law.

    “Protests, threats, attempts at mob actions, and inflammatory rhetoric do not aid the judicial process. Instead, they hinder it, creating unnecessary tension and undermining the rule of law,” he stated.

    The presidential aide said Sowore’s “pastime of PR agitation and courting of public sympathy to interfere with judicial proceedings is outdated and counterproductive in a modern democracy,” stressing that such actions would not be tolerated in any law-abiding society.

    READ ALSO: President’s spokesman seeks sanction for Kanu’s lawyer over protest participation

    “You cannot employ protest and civil unrest to demand the release of someone accused of terrorism and whose case is still in court. Not even in America,” Dare said.

    He clarified that the case of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), long predates President Bola Tinubu’s administration and remains strictly under judicial consideration. 

    According to him, “This administration respects the independence of the courts and will not interfere in ongoing legal proceedings.”

    While reaffirming the President’s commitment to justice and constitutional order, Dare warned that freedom and democracy “have their limits,” adding that “testing these limits will invite the full application of the laws as clearly stated.

    “The judiciary should be let alone to do its work without interference. President Tinubu remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice is served fairly and transparently,” he said.

  • JUST IN: Police disperse #FreeNnamdiKanu protesters in Abuja

    JUST IN: Police disperse #FreeNnamdiKanu protesters in Abuja

    The Police on Monday fired teargas near the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja to break up a gathering of demonstrators demanding the release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.

    A large contingent of police and military personnel had earlier surrounded the area, blocking access to nearby streets. 

    Details shortly…

  • JUST IN: Sowore leads #FreeNnamdikanuNow protest in Abuja 

    JUST IN: Sowore leads #FreeNnamdikanuNow protest in Abuja 

    The convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore is leading a protest in Abuja in front of the Trancorp Hilton Hotel. 

    The protest tagged: #freeNnamdiKanuNow march is being monitored by the police who have barricaded the area to prevent further movement by Sowore and his group. 

    Details shortly…

  • Between Gumi and Sowore

    Between Gumi and Sowore

    Two separate events penultimate week, drew attention to the responses of Nigerian authorities to the festering multi-dimensional insecurity in the country. The first was the peace agreement brokered by the United States of America (USA) which ushered in a ceasefire and release of hostages in the two-year old war between Israel and Hamas.

    Though Nigeria had no role in the agreement leading to the cessation of hostilities, albeit temporarily, Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi saw parallels between that event and possible solutions to the unabating banditry in the country. In a Facebook post, he had said, “Peace between Israel and Hamas they term as terrorist brokered by USA. Who said there is no peace with terrorists? Make peace with bandits and let us have peace”.

    The reading of that comparison is that, if Israel can enter into a peace accord with a known terrorist organisation like the Hamas, there is no reason the Nigerian authorities cannot work out a peace plan with the bandits and restore order in the country. There is some sense in it.

    It is also suggestive of Gumi’s frustrations with the current military campaign against banditry. He did not disclose the shape of the peace proposal. But the fiery Islamic scholar is known to have at different times called for amnesty for the bandits to lay down their arms.

    Engaging in peaceful negotiations with the bandits would seem plausible especially if issues to the conflict are clearly known. But do the bandits have issues to resolve with the Nigerian state? If yes, what are those issues? I shall return to it.

    The second is the proposed peaceful protest march to Aso Rock Villa on October 20, by activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Though Sowore had some weeks back, made public his intention to galvanise support for the campaign, he has been visibly mobilising for the protest march. Available reports indicate that he has been securing the buy-in of some notable Nigerians including students’ bodies against the continued incarceration of Kanu in the past four years.

    In a viral video in which he appeared with the special counsel to Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, among other activists, Sowore was seen querying the rationale for Kanu’s continued detention in the face of the clemency granted some categories of convicts among the 172 Nigerians pardoned for various offences. He is contending that if the heinous crimes committed by some of the convicts could be pardoned under the president’s prerogative of mercy, there does not seem further justification for Kanu not to benefit from such reprieve.

    There is a convergence of views between Gumi and Sowore on the path to resolving the insecurity in the country. Gumi believes bandits could still be engaged to lay down their arms and embrace peace despite being termed a terrorist organisation. This to him promises a better approach to ending the scourge of banditry that has left sorrow and awe in parts of the northwest.

    Gumi may have been led to this position by his knowledge of the bandits, given that a few years ago, he visited their camps in Zamfara forests where he interfaced with some of their leaders. Some of the bandits’ leaders who spoke during that visit cited cattle rustling, attacks by the military and being beaten up by the indigenous people of the state while on the road as their grievances.

    Then also, Gumi had called on the federal government to grant amnesty to enable them lay down their arms and embrace peace. But that did not happen apparently because of the difficulty in deciphering their proper grouse with the government, except the military attacks to contain their menace.

    But banditry has since metastasized with the government unable to contain the monster. This has compelled communities in some of the affected states to enter into some form of peace accords with the bandits for peace to reign. The most recent was the accord in the Subuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State in which traditional rulers and communities engaged directly with some of the bandits to foster dialogue and peace. Before now, a traditional ruler in one of the states was suspended but later reinstated for entering into similar peace accord with the bandits to allow local farmers access to their farms. Nobody can give a vivid account of the efficacy of such ad hoc peace agreements.

    But their lure inexorably highlights the helplessness of the local people in the hands of the bandits. And in existential challenges like this, it is difficult to fault those entering into such agreements in the face of the inability of the governments to maintain law and order in the affected communities. When Gumi canvassed amnesty or peace accord with the bandits, he may have been guided by this reality.

    The case of the IPOB and Kanu is more straightforward in the sense that the leadership is identifiable and their cause known as well. But the grouse Sowore and all those rooting for the IPOB leaders’ release have is with his continued incarceration for over four year without conviction by the courts. Sowore argues that with some of the names that benefitted from presidential clemency, it has become difficult to find justification for Kanu’s continued detention.

    Read Also: Dangote urges Nigerians to buy only made-in-Nigeria goods

    Expectedly, issues have been raised from government quarters regarding the propriety of such demands with the current court case in which Kanu is standing trial for alleged terrorism. Some other private individuals have even gone to the length of holding Kanu allegedly responsible for the killings in the southeast following the insecurity that trailed the self-determination agitations. They would want the courts to sort out his case before the issue of pardon could arise. They are all entitled to their views.

    But such antagonistic views fail to state how his conviction and possible jail will resolve the insecurity in the region, especially when weighed against the non-kinetic strategies of the same government to Boko Haram insurgency. Kanu has been in the custody of the DSS for over four years now and arraigned in various courts without being convicted.

    There is nothing preventing the committee on the prerogative of mercy from recommending his release among the 172 persons granted presidential clemency. There is also nothing preventing the president releasing him in the overall national interest if he decides to do so. If four years of detention and trials could to resolve the insecurity in the southeast, it remains to be conjectured what a jail term can do.

    Besides, the demand for a political solution to the Kanu saga is not new. Nearly everybody that matters in the southeast had at various times lent their unequivocal voices for the release of Kanu to deny oxygen to the band of criminals hiding under IPOB to commit crimes.

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo sent delegations to the immediate past president to give guarantees for his freedom. But the most touching was the delegation led by first republic minister and elder statesman, Mbazulike Amechi, to late President Buhari on the eve of his 94th birthday in 2022 pleading for the release of Kanu to him as a birthday gift.

    There is nothing wrong in Kanu benefitting from the presidential clemency as part of the solutions to the insecurity in the southeast. The parallels drawn by Gumi and Sowore should not be wished away. Not with subsisting challenges in containing the nation’s insecurity.

  • Kanu: Court bars Sowore, others from protesting near Aso Rock Villa, NASS, others

    Kanu: Court bars Sowore, others from protesting near Aso Rock Villa, NASS, others

    • Respect court order, Police tell protesters; warn against hijack

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, and others behind the planned protest for the release on Nnamdi Kanu of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from taking their activities anywhere close to the presidential villa, Aso Rock, Abuja and other important national institutions.

     Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Friday, also asked Sowore and his associates in the protest planned for October 20 to also steer clear of National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the motion on notice filed by the police on behalf of the Federal Government.

     In a certified true copy (CTC) of the enrolled order, signed on Saturday, Justice Umar said: “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 to 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.”

     Justice Umar adjourned till October 20 for hearing of the motion on notice.

    READ ALSO; MC Mbakara, wife open up on daughter’s nine-year cerebral palsy struggle

     The ruling was on a motion ex-parte filed in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025 filed by the police.

     Listed as respondents are 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.

     Sowore, the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (ACC) in 2019 and 2023 recently announced a planned protest to compel the Federal Government to release Kanu, who is being tried on a terrorism charge.

     The prosecution, in the case before a Federal High Court in Abuja, has since closed its case after calling five witnesses and rendering evidence including video and audio recordings of Kanu’s activities as IPOB leader.

     On October 16, the presiding judge in Kanu’s terrorism trial, Justice James Omotosho, read the concluding part of the report in the open court after Agabi confirmed that he received and read the report of the medical examination of his client by the NMA team.

     The report concluded that the ailments that Kanu complained about were not life threatening and that he was fit to continue to stand trial.

     When asked by the judge whether he had seen the report, Agabi confirmed receiving a copy, which he said he read and shared with members of his team.

     Agabi told the court that the defence team had nothing against the report.

     It was at the point that Justice Omotosho announced that in view of the accelerated hearing earlier granted in the case, he would adjourn for six consecutive days for the defence to open and close its case.

     The judge then requested Agabi and Awomolo to agree on the dates convenient for them, following which the two lawyers suggested October 23 for the commencement of the defendant’s case.

     Shortly before he adjourned for the day, Justice Omotosho granted an oral application by Agabi that Kanu’s legal team be granted private consultation opportunity with the defendant outside the premises of the Department of State Services (DSS) before the commencement of his defence.

     Agabi said the defendant’s legal team was afraid that its consultation with him (Kanu) could be secretly tapped or recorded by the DSS.

     Justice Omotosho also acceded to Agabi’s request that the private meeting with Kanu be held in the courtroom, during which only the defendant and his lawyers would be present.

    Agabi chose October 22, a day before the date set for Kanu, to open his defence.

    Based on Agabi’s request, Justice Omotosho ordered that the private consultation meeting between Kanu and his legal team should hold within the courtroom between 9am and 12noon on October 22, while the trial will resume on October 23.

    Respect court order, Police tell protesters

    THE Nigeria Police Force yesterday warned groups planning protests in Abuja to comply with a subsisting Federal High Court order restricting demonstrations around key government institutions.

    In a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, the police said an order issued on October 17 by a Federal High Court judge, M.G. Umar in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025 between the Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Omoyele Sowore & four others remained binding and enforceable.

    According to the police, the court restrained Sowore and others from staging protests within and around Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly Complex, Force Headquarters, the Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.

    The police urged all groups involved, whether supporting or opposing the agitation for Kanu’s release to respect the court order, warning that any attempt to defy it would attract punitive measures.

    “Any person or group that uses protests as cover to incite violence, carry or use offensive weapons, vandalise property, kidnap, or engage in acts likely to cause loss of life will be dealt with decisively,” the statement read.

    The Force reiterated that it recognised citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression but stressed that such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the law, especially where public safety and national security were at stake.

    The police said the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had directed the FCT Commissioner of Police to enforce the order strictly and ensure visible deployments across identified flashpoints in the capital city.

    According to the police, offenders would face prosecution under criminal laws relating to public order, violent conduct, and terrorism. The statement also cautioned those using social media to incite unrest, warning that digital evidence would be used in investigations and court proceedings.

    The police assured Abuja residents of adequate security arrangements to protect lives and property and urged people not participating in the protest to go about their lawful activities without fear.

  • IPOB’s Kanu: Court bars Sowore, others from protesting anywhere near Aso Rock Villa, NASS, others

    IPOB’s Kanu: Court bars Sowore, others from protesting anywhere near Aso Rock Villa, NASS, others

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore and others behind the planned protest for the release on Nnamdi Kanu of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from taking their activities anywhere close to the presidential villa, Aso Rock, Abuja and other important national institutions.

    Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling on Friday, also barred Sowore and his associates in the protest planned for October 20 to also steer clear of National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way, pending the hearing of the motion on notice filed by the police, on behalf of the Federal Government.

    In a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the order, signed on Saturday, Justice Umar said: “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.”

    Justice Umar adjourned till October 20 for hearing of the motion on notice. 

    The ruling was on a motion ex-parte, filed in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025 filed by the police.

    Listed as respondents are 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.

    Sowore, the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (ACC) in 2019 and 2023 recently announced plan a protest to compel the Federal Government to release Kanu, who being tried on a terrorism charge.

    The prosecution, in the case before a Federal High Court in Abuja, has sincled closed its case after calling five witnesses and rendering evidence including video a d audio recordings of Kanu’s activities as IPOB leader.

    On October 16, the presiding judge Kanu’s terrorism trial, Justice James Omotosho, read the concluding part of the report in the open court after Agabi confirmed that he received and read the report of the medical examination of his client by the NMA team.

    The report concluded that the ailments that Kanu complained about were not life threatening and that he was fit to continue to stand trial.

    When asked by the judge whether he had seen the report, Agabi confirmed receiving a copy, which he said he read and shared with members of his team.

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    Agabi told the court that the defence team had nothing against the report.

    It was at the point that Justice Omotosho announced that, in view of the accelerated hearing earlier granted in the case, he would adjourned for six consecutive days for the defence to open and close its case.

    The judge then requested Agabi and Awomolo to agree on the dates convenient for them, following which the two lawyers suggested October 23 for the commencement of the defendant’s case.

    Shortly before he adjourned for the day, Justice Omotosho granted an oral application by Agabi that Kanu’s legal team be granted private consultation opportunity with the defendant, outside the premises of the Department of State Services (DSS), before the commencement of his defence.

    Agabi said the defendant’s legal team was afraid that its consultation with him (Kanu) could be secretly tapped or recorded by the DSS.

    Justice Omotosho also acceded to Agabi’s request that the private meeting with Kanu be held in the courtroom, during which only the defendant and his lawyers would be present. Agabi chose October 22, a day before the date set for Kanu to open his defence.

    Based on Agabi’s request, Justice Omotosho ordered that the private consultation meeting between Kanu and his legal team should hold within the courtroom between 9am and 12noon on October 22, while the trial will resume on October 23.