The Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Nigeria Police Force acted unlawfully when it declared human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, wanted in 2025.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Musa Kakaaki held that the police action violated constitutional provisions and amounted to 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 judgment, Justice Kakaaki reaffirmed that no Nigerian can be criminalised for exercising the right to free speech, peaceful protest, or for holding government authorities accountable. The judge criticised the “lawlessness” of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and held the Inspector-General responsible for misconduct carried out under his command.
Tracing the evolution of declaring citizens “wanted” in Nigeria, the court noted that strict procedural safeguards must now be observed. A person can only be declared wanted after a valid court-issued warrant, proper notice, and credible evidence that the individual is deliberately evading lawful judicial process.
The court ruled that the warning issued by Commissioner Jimoh on 27 October 2025, directing Sowore to stay away from Lagos State, was arbitrary, unconstitutional, and beyond the lawful powers of the police. Likewise, the public notice issued on 3 November 2025 declaring Sowore wanted was illegal, ultra vires, unconstitutional, and a grave abuse of authority.
The police declaration followed an earlier directive in October 2025 ordering the activist and former presidential candidate to stay away from Lagos State. Commissioner Jimoh had accused Sowore of attempting to mobilise a protest on the Third Mainland Bridge over the demolition of properties in Oworonshoki.
Challenging the police action, Sowore filed a suit against the commissioner, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigeria Police Force, seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights. He asked the court to uphold his rights to dignity, personal 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 supporting the suit, Sowore stated that he was declared wanted without prior police invitation, arrest warrant, or formal charge. He argued that the action violated his constitutional rights and tarnished his reputation as a journalist, activist, and former presidential candidate.
Through his legal team led by Tope Temokun, Sowore maintained that he would have honoured any lawful police invitation. He sought an order restraining the police from harassing, intimidating, or arresting him and requested the nullification of the public notice branding him “wanted.” Additionally, he demanded ₦500 million in general and exemplary damages for what he described as the unlawful and oppressive violation of his rights.
The police opposed the suit, insisting that the commissioner acted within his legal authority in declaring Sowore wanted and that anyone dissatisfied with the decision was free to seek redress in court.
On 5 November 2025, appearing on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television, Commissioner Jimoh defended his actions, claiming Sowore had failed to honour an agreement to report to the police.
“My declaration that Sowore is wanted is still in force,” the commissioner said. He explained that Sowore’s lawyer had contacted him via text message while he was responding to a riot situation and was referred to the Officer-in-Charge of the Legal Department. The lawyer had 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 Sowore’s allegation that the Inspector-General of Police had ordered him to be “shot on sight,” describing it as “major misinformation” and insisting that the IGP would never issue such an order.
