Court Rules Declaration of Sowore as Wanted Unlawful, Orders ₦30m in Damages

A Federal High Court in Lagos ruled on Friday that the Nigerian police violated the law when they listed human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, as a wanted person in 2025.

Justice Musa Kakaaki awarded ₦30 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, for unlawfully pronouncing Sowore wanted.

According to details of the judgment shared by Sowore’s counsel, the court held that no Nigerian can be criminalised for speaking, protesting, or holding the government accountable.

Jimoh had, on November 3, 2025, publicly declared Sowore wanted for allegedly attempting to lead a protest on the Third Mainland Bridge over the demolition of poor settlements in Oworonshoki, Lagos.

Earlier in October 2025, the police commissioner had also ordered the activist and former presidential candidate to stay away from Lagos.

Dissatisfied with the pronouncement, Sowore instituted a suit against the commissioner, the IGP, and the police.

In the suit, he sought enforcement of his fundamental rights to dignity, liberty, freedom of movement, expression, and peaceful assembly as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

In an affidavit, Sowore maintained that the police declared him wanted without prior invitation, warrant, or formal charge.

Through his team of lawyers led by Tope Temokun, he argued that the action damaged his reputation and impaired his constitutional rights. He added that he would have honoured any lawful invitation extended to him.

Sowore prayed the court to restrain the police from harassing, intimidating, or arresting him and to set aside the declaration. He also sought ₦500 million in general and exemplary damages.

The police opposed the suit, insisting that Jimoh had the authority to declare Sowore wanted.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on November 5, 2025, Jimoh said the declaration remained in force and alleged that Sowore failed to report to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yaba as agreed by his lawyer.

“My declaration that Sowore is wanted is still in force,” he said at the time.

He also dismissed allegations that the IGP ordered Sowore to be “shot on sight,” describing the claim as misinformation.

Delivering judgment, Justice Kakaaki condemned what he described as lawlessness on the part of the police commissioner and held the IGP accountable for the misconduct.

The court ruled that the permission of a court of law is required before a citizen can be declared wanted.

Tracing the evolution of the law, the judge held that such a declaration must follow the issuance of a warrant, proper notice, and proof that the individual is evading lawful process. Only then, he said, can a court grant approval for such action.

He declared Jimoh’s October 27, 2025 warning ordering Sowore to stay away from Lagos as arbitrary, unconstitutional, and beyond police powers.

The public declaration of November 3, 2025, designating the activist as wanted, was held to be illegal, ultra vires, unconstitutional, and a grave abuse of power.

Reacting, Sowore’s counsel, Mr Temokun, described the ruling as “a loud constitutional warning against the abuse of state power in Nigeria.”

“The misconduct of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, attracted judicial condemnation, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was held liable for that improper exercise of authority,” he wrote on Facebook.

He added, “We salute the courage of the Court for standing firmly on the side of justice, liberty, and constitutional governance.”