The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared that the Nigeria Police Force acted unlawfully when it labeled human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, as wanted in 2025.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Musa Kakaaki ruled that the police’s actions breached constitutional provisions and constituted an abuse of power.
The court awarded ₦30 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Lagos State Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh.
In a strongly worded ruling, Justice Kakaaki reaffirmed that no Nigerian can be criminalised for exercising the right to free speech, engaging in peaceful protest, or holding government officials accountable.
The judge criticised what he described as the “lawlessness” of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and held the Inspector-General accountable for misconduct carried out under his command.
Highlighting the legal framework for declaring citizens wanted in Nigeria, Justice Kakaaki explained that strict procedural safeguards must now be followed. He noted that an individual can only be declared wanted after a valid court-issued warrant, proper notice, and credible evidence showing deliberate evasion of lawful judicial process.
The court further ruled that Commissioner Jimoh’s directive on October 27, 2025, ordering Sowore to stay away from Lagos State, was arbitrary, unconstitutional, and beyond the police’s legal authority.
Likewise, the public notice issued on November 3, 2025, declaring Sowore wanted, was deemed illegal, ultra vires, unconstitutional, and a serious abuse of power. On November 3, 2025, Lagos State Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh publicly declared Omoyele Sowore wanted, accusing him of planning a protest on the Third Mainland Bridge in response to property demolitions in Oworonshoki.
The announcement followed an earlier October 2025 directive in which the commissioner ordered the activist and former presidential candidate to stay away from Lagos State.
In response, Sowore filed a lawsuit against the commissioner, the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and the Nigeria Police Force, seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights.
In his petition, Sowore requested that the court uphold his constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, freedom of movement, expression, and peaceful assembly, as guaranteed under both the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Sowore stated that he was declared wanted without any prior police invitation, arrest warrant, or formal charge. He argued that the action violated his constitutional protections and damaged his reputation as a journalist, activist, and former presidential candidate.
Through his legal team, led by Tope Temokun, Sowore asserted that he would have complied with any lawful summons from the authorities. He therefore sought a court order restraining the police from harassing, intimidating, or arresting him and requested the nullification of the public notice labeling him “wanted.”
Sowore also demanded ₦500 million in general and exemplary damages for what he described as an unlawful and oppressive violation of his fundamental rights.
The police opposed the suit, maintaining that the commissioner acted within his legal authority in declaring Sowore wanted, and noted that anyone dissatisfied with the decision could seek redress in court.
On November 5, 2025, appearing on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, Jimoh defended his actions, claiming that Sowore had failed to honor an agreement to report to the police. “My declaration that Sowore is wanted is still in force,” the commissioner said during the interview.
He explained that Sowore’s lawyer had contacted him via text message while he was responding to a riot situation and was subsequently referred to the Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Department. According to him, the lawyer agreed that Sowore would appear at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yaba, where the matter was being investigated.
“But throughout yesterday, he failed to report,” Jimoh said, adding, “We will do everything within the ambit of the law to get him arrested, investigated, and prosecuted.”
The commissioner also dismissed allegations by Sowore that the Inspector-General of Police had ordered that he be “shot on sight,” describing the claim as “major misinformation.” He insisted that the IGP would never issue such an order.