The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday heard the fundamental rights case filed by human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. The suit, presided over by Justice Musa Kakaki, challenges the police declaration of Sowore as a wanted person in November 2025.
Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Sowore’s lawyer, Barrister Tope Temokun, said the police failed to provide any legal or constitutional basis for declaring the activist wanted or restricting his movements. Temokun described the police actions as arbitrary, unconstitutional, and dangerous to the rights of citizens.
He explained that their application before the court was finally heard after several adjournments, with the judge consistently extending an earlier restraining order that stopped the police from taking further actions against Sowore.
According to him, the Lagos Commissioner of Police acted without any petition, criminal allegation, invitation, or evidence against Sowore before issuing the controversial statements of October 27 and November 3, 2025. Temokun noted that the activist was not accused of any offence but was merely targeted while massive demolitions were ongoing in Lagos, especially in areas populated by low-income residents.
He said the only statement the police produced was written after the case had already been filed and still contained no allegation of crime. Temokun insisted that the court must determine the legality of such actions, not just for Sowore but for all Nigerians who may face similar abuses of power.
He emphasized that the legal team is seeking a judicial pronouncement on whether the commissioner’s conduct was constitutional. The lawyer expressed confidence in the court, noting that Justice Kakaki has shown commitment by hearing the matter repeatedly within six weeks and pushing both sides to file all necessary responses promptly.
Sowore, reacting to the proceedings, thanked his lawyers for what he described as a diligent exposure of police impunity. He accused the Nigerian Police Force leadership of being engulfed in crises, including what he called illegal appointments, torture incidents, and a controversial staff list allegedly filled with unqualified senior officers.
The activist alleged that the Inspector General of Police has been involved in acts of repression against him, including withholding his passport since January and allegedly plotting attempts on his life earlier in the year. Sowore said he believes those behind what he called “illegality and impunity” will face justice eventually.
He also commended serving and retired police officers for their patience during the struggle to remove them from what he described as a “punitive pension scheme,” claiming he stood for their welfare at the National Assembly before the reform was passed.
Sowore criticised Lagos CP Adegoke Fayoade (popularly known as ‘Jinadu Mash’), alleging that he is attempting to curry favour to become the next Inspector General of Police. He argued that incompetence at the top levels of the force has weakened internal security, leaving soldiers to perform policing duties while bandits and kidnappers occupy several states across the country.
According to him, Nigeria currently has about 350,000 policemen, but only around 210,000 are active due to ghost workers, mass migration, and the large number assigned to VIPs. Sowore alleged that despite public claims that VIP escorts have been withdrawn, only those who failed to “pay dues” lost their policemen.
He called on policemen to remember they are meant to serve Nigerians, not oppress them, and vowed to continue fighting abuses of power. Sowore ended with Christmas wishes to Nigerians despite what he described as a difficult year marked by hardship but also growing public awareness and resistance to injustice.
