By: Sunday Ameh
Human rights activist and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has filed a ₦500million fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh. The suit follows the public declaration of Sowore as a “wanted person” by the Lagos Police Command.
The legal action, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeks the enforcement of Sowore’s rights to dignity, personal liberty, freedom of expression, association, and movement as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
According to the affidavit of urgency personally deposed to by Sowore, the Lagos Commissioner of Police announced him as wanted on November 3, 2025, despite the activist never receiving any police invitation, warrant, or notice of investigation.
Sowore, through his legal team comprising prominent human rights lawyers including Tope Temokun, Marshal Abubakar, Inibehe Effiong, Deji Adeyanju, and others, is urging the court to restrain the police from arresting, harassing, or intimidating him, and to set aside the public declaration tagging him as a fugitive.
He emphasized that the police acted outside the law, arguing that such a declaration without due legal process constitutes a direct attack on his reputation, liberty, and civic rights. “I have not committed any offence,” Sowore stated, adding that he would have honoured any legitimate police invitation if issued.
The activist described the action of the Lagos Police Commissioner as a deliberate attempt to intimidate him and suppress his activism, particularly following his involvement in protests against alleged illegal demolitions in Oworonshoki, Lagos.
Sowore also requested leave of court for substituted service on the respondents, citing urgency and possible challenges in personally serving senior police officials. He maintained that without swift judicial intervention, he risks continuous harassment and unlawful arrest.
The court is expected to fix a date for hearing in the coming days.
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