A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has awarded N30 million in damages to activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, over his unlawful declaration as a wanted person by the Nigeria Police Force.
The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice M. Kakaki, held that the actions of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, were unconstitutional and amounted to a violation of Sowore’s fundamental rights.
The case stemmed from events in late 2025, when the Lagos State Police Command reportedly issued a warning to Sowore on October 27, cautioning him against entering Lagos State. Days later, on November 3, the police declared him wanted, a move Sowore challenged as lacking any legal basis.
In his judgment, which lasted over an hour, Justice Kakaki ruled that the police acted arbitrarily and outside the bounds of their lawful authority. He stated that the directive barring Sowore from Lagos State had no constitutional foundation and that declaring him wanted without a valid court order constituted a clear abuse of power.
The court emphasized that no individual can be lawfully declared wanted without due process, including the issuance of a court warrant and evidence that the individual is actively evading lawful arrest or judicial proceedings. It further held that the police actions infringed on Sowore’s rights to freedom of movement, expression, and peaceful civic participation.
Justice Kakaki also held the Inspector-General of Police vicariously liable for the actions of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, noting that the gravity of the violations justified strong judicial sanctions. Consequently, the court awarded N30 million in damages against the senior police officers.
Reacting to the judgment, Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, described the ruling as a landmark affirmation of constitutional democracy and the rule of law, adding that it sends a clear message that state power must not be used to intimidate or silence citizens.
