Can you hold the Home button, then slide up to the Google button when it shows up? That should open up Google Now, from there you can go into the settings. When you get to the settings, there should be a switch up to turning it on and off. Is it off?
Nope there was no way to open it (long press home /lock screen/search bar /app drawer.
I fixed it now I backed up my phone and just did a factory reset
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums