In a landmark judgment for civil liberties in Nigeria, the Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Nigeria Police Force acted unlawfully when it declared human rights activist Omoyele Sowore “wanted” in late 2025. Justice Musa Kakaaki, delivering the judgment on Friday, February 20, 2026, awarded N30 million in damages against the police leadership for what he described as a “misuse of authority.”
The Judgment: Constitutional Safeguards
Justice Kakaaki ruled that the actions of the police breached fundamental constitutional safeguards. The court emphasized that the police cannot be used as a tool to punish citizens for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
The court awarded the N30 million in damages jointly against:
- The Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
- Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun
- Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh
Unconstitutional Directives
The legal battle centered on two specific directives issued by the Lagos State Police Command in late 2025:
- Exile Order (Oct 27, 2025): Commissioner Moshood Jimoh issued a directive instructing Sowore to stay away from Lagos State. The court ruled this order unconstitutional, stating it exceeded police powers.
- Wanted Notice (Nov 3, 2025): Following the “exile” order, the police published a notice branding Sowore a wanted man. The court ruled this notice was an abuse of authority and failed to meet the strict legal requirements for declaring a person wanted.
Justice Kakaaki clarified that for a “wanted” notice to be valid, the police must provide evidence of a court-issued warrant, adequate notice, and proof that the individual is deliberately evading lawful proceedings.
Background: The Oworonshoki Protest
The controversy began when Commissioner Jimoh accused Sowore of attempting to organize a protest on the Third Mainland Bridge. The planned demonstration was intended to highlight property demolitions in the Oworonshoki area.
In response to the planned protest, Jimoh first warned Sowore to stay out of the state before taking the further step of declaring him a wanted man, a move the court has now officially categorized as “lawlessness.”
Court’s Stance on Accountability
In his concluding remarks, Justice Kakaaki criticized the “lawlessness” of the Lagos police leadership. He held the Inspector-General of Police accountable for the actions taken under his command, asserting that demanding accountability from public officials is a right that should not be met with state-sponsored intimidation.
Source: Africa Publicity
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