Court faults Lagos CP for declaring Sowore wanted, awards him N30m damages

Sowore

The federal high court in Lagos has declared that Moshood Jimoh, Lagos commissioner of police, acted illegally by declaring Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and human rights activist, wanted.

Musa Kakaki, the trial judge, on Friday, ruled that declaring Sowore wanted by the Lagos police commissioner in November 2025 violates the activist’s fundamental human rights.

Kakaki awarded N30 million damages against the Lagos police commissioner and the inspector-general of police.

THE CASE

On November 3, 2025, Jimoh declared Sowore wanted over an alleged public disturbance after the activist joined a protest over demolitions at the Oworonshoki community of Lagos state.

Jimoh had accused Sowore of allegedly coming to Lagos to instigate public disturbance over the demolitions of buildings in the community.

The Lagos police commissioner had said there was no reason for the protest since the state government had compensated those affected by the demolitions.

Displeased by the wanted notice, Sowore approached the court.

In the affidavits attached to the suit, Sowore deposed that he had not been served with any formal police invitation or warrant of arrest before he was declared wanted by the Lagos police commissioner.

Some days later, Kakaki restrained the state police command and the commissioner of police from arresting or intimidating Sowore.

‘WARNING AGAINST THE ABUSE OF STATE POWER’