Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday adjourned the N1.2 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other respondents, to March 10, 2026, for a definite hearing.
Sowore’s suit challenges his arrest, detention, and arraignment by the police in Abuja in October 2025.
During proceedings, Sowore’s counsel, Marshal Abubakar, informed the court that the matter was listed for mention, but none of the defendants, who had been duly served with hearing notices, appeared in court or offered any explanation for their absence. Abubakar requested that the court deem the matter mentioned and fix a date for a definite hearing.
Justice Umar consequently adjourned the case to March 10 and directed that hearing notices be served on all defendants.
Sowore is seeking declarations that his arrest, harassment, restraint, and arraignment on October 23 and 24, 2025, were illegal, oppressive, and unconstitutional.
In the originating motion, filed pursuant to Sections 34, 35, 37, 41, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 2, 5, 6, and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Sowore accused the police of abuse of power and flagrant violation of his rights to liberty, dignity, and freedom of movement. He seeks declarations that his arrest on October 23, 2025, violated his fundamental right to personal liberty under Section 35(1) of the Constitution, and that the harassment, restraint, and detention he endured violated his freedom of movement under Section 41(1) of the Constitution and Article 12 of the African Charter. He also contends that his arraignment on October 24, 2025, further breached his rights to dignity and protection from arbitrary detention.
In his affidavit, Sowore recounted being arrested within the premises of the Federal High Court, Abuja, while attending to court proceedings, over alleged participation in a peaceful protest. He accused the police of resorting to self-help rather than due process.
Sowore is also asking the court to direct the Attorney General of the Federation to initiate disciplinary action against the IGP and the FCT Commissioner of Police under relevant laws, including the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, and the Violence Against Persons Act.
The suit further seeks an order compelling the respondents to tender a public apology to Sowore in at least three national newspapers, pay N200 million in general damages for unlawful arrest and detention, and an additional N1 billion as punitive and exemplary damages for the violation of his fundamental rights.
According to the suit, Sowore is entitled to compensation and public apology, as the respondents’ actions constituted oppression, abuse of power, and violation of human dignity. “The applicant is entitled to an order compelling the respondents to pay N1.2 billion in damages and tender public apologies for the blatant violation of his fundamental rights without due process of law,” the document reads.
