By Charles Pemu 
The Federal High Court in Abuja was effectively shut down this morning, Monday, October 20, 2025, as a heavy security presence and street closures paralyzed activities across the capital, coinciding with the planned protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
A reporter from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) found the high-rise building housing at least thirteen courtrooms locked up tight as of 9:30 a.m. While a few court workers, lawyers, litigants, and private guards were present on the premises, no judge was sighted, effectively grounding all judicial business for the day.
The city experienced a significant security lockdown intended to preempt the demonstration planned by activist Omoyele Sowore. Heavy security deployment, including water cannons, saturated critical intersections. These included Gana Street and Shehu Shagari Way by Nicon Hilton Hotel, the popular NITEL Junction at Wuse 2, the Federal Secretariat environs, the National Assembly Junction, and roads leading into the Asokoro District toward the Presidential Villa.
Movement was severely restricted across these areas. Vehicles were disallowed from passing and many pedestrians were denied walking through the security cordons. Police were also reported to have fired tear gas in some locations to disperse any attempt at public gathering.
This operational paralysis occurred on the same day that Justice Mohammed Umar had scheduled a crucial hearing. The court was to hear arguments from the respondents, including Mr. Sowore, to show cause why an interim court order should be vacated. Justice Umar had granted an ex parte motion filed by the police last Friday, explicitly restraining Sowore and others from protesting in sensitive areas.
The interim order bars protesters from the Aso Rock Villa, the National Assembly, Force Headquarters, the Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way. The police affidavit supporting the motion argued that allowing the demonstration in these locations could threaten national security. The failure of the court to sit means the legal challenge to the protest ban has been stalled, even as the physical demonstration was being suppressed.