The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared that the Nigeria Police Force acted outside the law when it labelled human rights campaigner, Omoyele Sowore, wanted in 2025, awarding N30m in damages
In a judgment delivered on Friday, Justice Musa Kakaaki ruled that the police action breached constitutional safeguards and represented a misuse of authority.
The court awarded N30 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh.
Justice Kakaaki stressed that citizens cannot be punished for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, or for demanding accountability from public officials. He criticised what he termed “lawlessness” on the part of the Lagos police leadership and held the Inspector-General accountable for actions taken under his command.
The court explained that under current legal standards, declaring a person wanted requires strict compliance with due process. A valid court-issued warrant, adequate notice, and reliable evidence that the person is deliberately evading lawful proceedings must be in place before such a declaration can be made.
It also found that the directive issued on 27 October 2025 by Commissioner Jimoh instructing Sowore to avoid Lagos State was unconstitutional and exceeded police powers. The subsequent public notice of 3 November 2025 branding him wanted was similarly ruled unlawful, unconstitutional, and an abuse of authority.
The controversy began after Jimoh publicly accused Sowore of attempting to organise a protest on the Third Mainland Bridge over property demolitions in Oworonshoki and declared him wanted. This followed an earlier order warning him to stay out of Lagos.
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