Court proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja were disrupted on Monday following the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, which paralysed activities across the court complex.
According to reports, all 13 courtrooms in the high-rise building were locked as of 9:30 a.m., with only a few court staff, lawyers, and guards seen within the premises. No judges were sighted.
One of the major cases affected by the disruption was the police’s suit against Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, and others involved in organizing the protest demanding the release of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Heavy security presence was observed around key parts of Abuja, including Gana Street, Shehu Shagari Way, Federal Secretariat, National Assembly Junction, and Asokoro District. Security operatives were seen using water cannons and firing teargas in some locations to disperse protesters.
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court had earlier fixed Monday for the hearing of a motion filed by the police, seeking to restrain Sowore and others from holding the protest near major government facilities such as the Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, and Force Headquarters.
The judge had granted an interim order on Friday, barring the protesters from those areas pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The police, through an affidavit by an officer attached to its legal department, Bassey Ibithan, argued that the planned protest posed a threat to national security.
Sowore, however, defended the demonstration as a peaceful call for justice, insisting that Kanu’s continued detention was illegal and that the protest sought to compel government action.
The IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has been in custody since his 2021 arrest in Kenya and rendition to Nigeria to face terrorism charges. His trial before Justice James Omotosho is scheduled to continue on October 23, when he is expected to open his defence.
Despite being planned as a nationwide protest, the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow demonstration took a stronghold mainly in Abuja, where Sowore addressed supporters before security forces intervened to disperse the crowd.
