A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued an interim order restraining activist Omoyele Sowore and several others from staging protests in key areas of the Federal Capital Territory, including the Aso Rock Villa, on Monday.
Justice Mohammed Umar granted the ex-parte motion filed by police counsel Wisdom Madaki, acting on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), contrary to earlier media reports suggesting otherwise.
In the ruling, the court barred the respondents from holding demonstrations within or near the Aso Rock Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way pending the hearing of a motion on notice.
The certified true copy of the enrolled order, signed by Court Registrar Kasim Muazu and Justice Umar, was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.
The court also abridged the time within which the respondents must respond to the application, ordering that the matter be heard on Monday, October 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
This directive contradicts reports claiming that the case had been adjourned to October 21.
According to the order: “The respondents are hereby restrained in the interim from protesting in the following areas – Aso Rock Villa or anywhere 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.”
The order further mandated that the motion and enrolled order be served immediately on the respondents.
The ex-parte motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2202/2025, lists five respondents — Omoyele Sowore, Sahara Reporters Ltd, Sahara Reporters’ Media Foundation, Take It Back (TIB) Movement, and Unknown Persons acting under similar intentions.
Filed on October 16, the motion sought a single relief:
“An order of this honourable court restraining or banning protesters from demonstrating in the following areas: Aso Rock Villa or anywhere close to the Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way,”
The supporting affidavit was sworn by Bassey Ibithan, a police officer attached to the Directorate of Legal Services, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Justice Umar adjourned the matter to October 20, 2025, for the hearing of the motion on notice.
