The Federal High Court has ruled that the Nigeria Police Force acted unlawfully in declaring human rights activist and journalist, Omoyele Sowore, wanted, awarding ₦30 million in damages against the police authorities.

Delivering judgment on Friday in Lagos, Justice Musa Kakaaki held that the action of the police violated constitutional provisions and amounted to an abuse of power.

The court ordered the payment of damages jointly and severally by the Nigeria Police Force, the Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh.

In a strongly worded decision, Justice Kakaaki reaffirmed that no Nigerian can be criminalised for exercising the rights to free speech, peaceful protest and holding public authorities accountable.

The judge criticised what he described as the lawlessness of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and held the Inspector-General of Police vicariously responsible for the misconduct carried out under his command.

Tracing the evolution of the practice of declaring individuals wanted in Nigeria, the court held that strict procedural safeguards must now be followed, including the issuance of a valid court warrant, proper notice and credible evidence that a suspect is deliberately evading lawful judicial process.

Justice Kakaaki ruled that the directive issued by the Lagos police commissioner on 27 October 2025, warning Sowore to stay away from Lagos State, was arbitrary, unconstitutional and outside the lawful powers of the police.

Similarly, the public notice issued on 3 November 2025 declaring the activist wanted was described as illegal, ultra vires and a grave abuse of authority.

Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, was declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command over allegations that he attempted to mobilise a protest on the Third Mainland Bridge following the demolition of properties in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos.

The declaration followed an earlier directive in October 2025 ordering the activist and former presidential candidate to stay away from Lagos State.

Challenging the action, Sowore instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the police commissioner, the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.

In his application, he asked the court to uphold his rights to dignity, personal liberty, freedom of movement, expression and peaceful assembly as guaranteed by the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Sowore argued that he was declared wanted without any prior police invitation, arrest warrant or formal charge, insisting that the action damaged his reputation as a journalist, activist and politician.

Through his counsel, Tope Temokun, he maintained that he would have honoured any lawful police invitation and sought an order restraining the police from further harassment, intimidation or arrest, as well as the nullification of the public notice declaring him wanted.

He also demanded ₦500 million in general and exemplary damages for the alleged violation of his rights.

The police opposed the suit, contending that the commissioner acted within his powers and that any aggrieved party was free to seek redress in court.

Defending his action during an appearance on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on 5 November 2025, Jimoh insisted that the declaration remained valid, claiming Sowore failed to honour an agreement to report to the police.

“My declaration that Sowore is wanted is still in force,” the commissioner said, adding that the activist would be arrested, investigated and prosecuted within the ambit of the law.

He also dismissed claims that the Inspector-General of Police had ordered Sowore to be shot on sight, describing the allegation as misinformation and insisting that no such directive was ever issued.