Human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, has initiated a ₦500 million lawsuit against the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Lagos State Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh, challenging what he described as an unlawful declaration of him as a wanted person.
The case was filed at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
Sowore is seeking redress for violations of his constitutionally guaranteed rights to liberty, dignity, and freedom of movement under Sections 34, 35, 39, 40, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Confirming the filing on his verified X account at around 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Sowore wrote:
“I just left the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos where the court restrained the incompetent CP of the Lagos Command, Moshood Jimoh, from declaring Omoyele Sowore wanted!”
According to Sahara Reporters, the court has granted an interim order restraining the Lagos CP from further issuing “wanted” declarations against Sowore pending the hearing of the substantive case.
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Sowore’s suit demands ₦500 million in damages for alleged infringement of his rights and reputational harm resulting from the police action, which he described as politically motivated.
Represented by human rights lawyers Tope Temokun and Marshal Abubakar, he also seeks a perpetual injunction barring the police or their agents from harassing, arresting, or intimidating him in the future.
Sowore contends that prior to the declaration, he was never formally invited, charged, or served with a warrant, despite police claims linking him to a planned protest in Lagos.
As of press time, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the Lagos State Police Command had released an official response to the lawsuit.