The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim injunction restraining the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Nigeria Police Force from giving effect to the recent public declaration naming human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, as “wanted.” The court also barred the police from arresting, threatening, or harassing him in connection with the declaration.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday by Hon. Justice Kakaki, followed an ex parte application filed on behalf of Sowore by human rights lawyer, Barr. Tope Temokun. The substantive hearing of the suit has been scheduled for November 14, 2025.
The injunction effectively nullifies the Lagos Police Command’s November 3, 2025 announcement declaring Sowore “wanted” over alleged involvement in public protests in Lagos. The court held that no police officer or agency has the legal authority to declare a citizen wanted without a lawful order or warrant issued by a court.
Speaking to Symfoni after the ruling, Sowore described the court’s decision as a reaffirmation that the rule of law still holds meaning in Nigeria.
“Today is another victory for constitutional democracy. Power must operate within the limits of the law,” he said. “The police woke up and declared me wanted without any lawful order. The court has now stopped them. This shows that when we challenge injustice, we can win.”
Sowore accused the Commissioner of Police, CP Jimoh, of acting in bad faith and attempting to use state power to intimidate him.
“I came to Lagos because he invited me, and like I always do, I joined a protest. When he realized I had actually shown up, he lost composure and declared me wanted on TV. There was no warrant, no investigation, no court order — just raw abuse of office,” he stated.
The activist said the legal challenge is not only to protect his rights, but also to set a precedent that arbitrary use of state power must be resisted.
“We cannot allow a system where citizens live like fugitives in their own country. Poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity — Nigerians are already struggling to breathe. The police should not add unlawful harassment to the list.”
Sowore, who is also demanding ₦500 million in damages, jokingly remarked that he intends to use the money “to buy more ewa agoyin,” but added that the seriousness of the case lies in holding institutions accountable.
He emphasized that the larger struggle is for national liberation from corruption, bad governance, and policies that “slowly kill citizens.”
“There is genocide happening in Nigeria — not just against a tribe or religion — but against the poor. Starvation is genocide. Destroying livelihoods is genocide. Paying salaries that cannot sustain life is genocide. It is a systematic attack on the Nigerian people.”
On the other hand, Sowore’s counsel, Barr. Tope Temokun, clarified the legal implications of the ruling.
“The court has restrained the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Nigeria Police Force from harassing, intimidating, threatening, arresting, or further declaring our client wanted,” he said. “The declaration made on November 3, 2025 is now void and illegal.”
Temokun stressed that under Nigerian law, the police require a court order before declaring any citizen wanted.
“No police officer has the power to make such a declaration on their own. It must come through lawful process. What happened was unlawful, and the court has corrected it.”
He added that the legal team will pursue damages to deter future abuse of authority.
“This case is not just for Sowore. It is for all Nigerians who have been forced into fear by unlawful police actions. We must restore confidence in the law.”
