The Federal High Court, Lagos, has declared the Nigeria Police Force guilty of abusing its powers after unlawfully branding Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, as a wanted person in 2025, awarding ₦30 million in damages against the police authorities.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Musa Kakaaki ruled that the action of the police violated constitutional guarantees and amounted to a serious misuse of state power. The court held the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, jointly liable.

In a strongly worded ruling, the judge stressed that no Nigerian can be criminalised for exercising freedom of speech, peaceful protest, or demanding accountability from government authorities, describing the conduct of the police leadership as “lawless.” Justice Kakaaki noted that the Inspector-General bears responsibility for actions carried out by officers under his command.

The court explained that modern Nigerian law only permits declaring a citizen wanted after a valid court-issued warrant, proper notice, and proof that the individual is deliberately evading lawful judicial process — conditions which were absent in Sowore’s case.

Justice Kakaaki further nullified the 27 October 2025 directive by Commissioner Jimoh ordering Sowore to stay away from Lagos State, describing it as arbitrary, unconstitutional, and outside police powers. He also ruled that the 3rd  November 2025 public notice declaring Sowore wanted was illegal, ultra vires, and a grave abuse of authority.

Sowore was publicly declared wanted on 3rd November 2025 over allegations that he planned to mobilise protests on the Third Mainland Bridge following the demolition of properties in Oworonshoki, Lagos. The declaration followed an earlier warning issued in October 2025 barring him from entering the state.

Challenging the action, Sowore sued the police authorities, seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights to dignity, liberty, movement, expression, and peaceful assembly under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He maintained that no invitation, arrest warrant, or formal charge had ever been issued against him.

Through his lawyer, Tope Temokun, Sowore argued that the police action damaged his reputation as a journalist, activist, and former presidential candidate, insisting he would have honoured any lawful invitation. He initially demanded ₦500 million in damages and a restraining order against further harassment.

The police opposed the suit, insisting the declaration was lawful. Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on 5 November 2025, Commissioner Jimoh defended his action, stating, “My declaration that Sowore is wanted is still in force.” He claimed Sowore failed to report to the State CID in Yaba as allegedly agreed.

Jimoh also dismissed Sowore’s claim that the Inspector-General ordered he be “shot on sight,” calling it “major misinformation,” and insisting the IGP would never issue such a directive.