Sowore has sued Nigeria Police, IGP and Lagos CP for ₦500 million over ‘wanted’ declaration.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and founder of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has filed a ₦500 million lawsuit against the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Lagos State Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh for allegedly violating his fundamental human rights by declaring him wanted.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeks to enforce Sowore’s constitutional rights to dignity, liberty, and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and corresponding provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
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A team of prominent human rights lawyers—including Tope Temokun, Inibehe Effiong, Marshal Abubakar, A.E. Adegoroye, Moshood Shittu, Deji Adeyanju, O.D. Olatunde, and I.E. Osunyikanmi—filed the case on Sowore’s behalf.
The legal action follows a November 3, 2025 public statement by the Lagos Commissioner of Police declaring Sowore “wanted” without any prior police invitation, warrant, or formal charge.
In an affidavit of urgency, Sowore described the declaration as unlawful, defamatory, and intended to stifle his freedom and activism. He stressed that no legal grounds existed for labeling him a fugitive and that such actions had severely harmed his reputation as a journalist and activist.
“I have not received any formal invitation or been charged with any offence. If I were invited for a lawful investigation, I would have honoured it,” Sowore stated.
“Declaring me wanted without due process violates my rights and portrays me falsely as a criminal.”
The motion seeks several urgent reliefs, including an interim injunction restraining the police and their agents from harassing, intimidating, arresting, or further declaring Sowore wanted pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Sowore is also asking the court to set aside the public declaration, describing it as a gross abuse of power that undermines his constitutional freedoms.
In his affidavit, he further argued that unless the court intervenes urgently, the police may continue to threaten and harass him, jeopardizing his liberty and safety.
He affirmed that the lawsuit was filed “in good faith” to protect his dignity and hold law enforcement accountable to due process.
