By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has filed a lawsuit seeking ₦500 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh. The legal action alleges a violation of his fundamental human rights.

In the suit, which was lodged at the Federal High Court in Lagos, Sowore is petitioning for the enforcement of his fundamental rights to human dignity, personal liberty, and freedom of movement. He bases his claim on the provisions of Sections 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), in addition to Articles 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The lawsuit, filed by a team of human rights lawyers including Tope Temokun, Marshal Abubakar, Inibehe Effiong, A.E. Adegoroye, Moshood Shittu, Deji Adeyanju, O.D. Olatunde, and I.E. Osunyikanmi, follows a public declaration by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police on November 3, 2025, naming Sowore as a “wanted person.”

In an affidavit of urgency personally deposed to by Sowore, he stated that on November 3, 2025, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, publicly declared him “wanted” through the media, despite no prior invitation, warrant, or charge being issued against him.

The motion, brought pursuant to Order of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, seeks several urgent reliefs, including: “AN ORDER granting LEAVE to the Applicant to serve the originating processes in this suit and the hearing notices for the court sittings, on the 2nd and 3rd Respondents, by substituted means, to wit; By serving the 2nd and 3rd Respondents, through the 3rd Respondent’s state command i.e. the office of the 1st Respondent, the commissioner of police of Lagos State, lagos State Police Command. Ikeja, by delivering to the said state command i.c. .the office of the 1st Respondent, each copy of the originating processes and/or hearing notices meant for each of the gnd and 3rd Respondents.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the Respondents, , particularly the 1 Respondent, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, whether by themsclves, their servants, agents, officers, or privies, from harassing and/or intimidating and/or threatening with arrest and/or arresting and/or further declaring, representing, or in any manner portraying the Applicant as a “wanted person” or fugitive, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“An order of interim stay of operation and action on the effect of the public declaration made by the 1st Respondent, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, describing or declaring the Applicant, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, as a “wanted person”, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“AND FOR SUCH FURTHER ORDER OR ORDERS as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.”

Sowore deposed that he had not been served with any formal police invitation or warrant of arrest, adding that his constitutional rights to dignity, liberty, and free movement had been severely impaired by the actions of the police.

The activist, who described himself as a law-abiding citizen, emphasised that if he had been invited for any lawful investigation, he would have honoured such invitation.

He argued that the declaration by the Lagos Police Commissioner unlawfully tainted his reputation as a respected journalist and former presidential candidate, noting that it was intended to stifle his freedom and silence his activism.

Sowore urged the court to restrain the police and their agents from further harassing, intimidating, or arresting him, and to set aside the public declaration labeling him as a wanted person.

The Affidavit Of Urgency reads, “That unless restrained urgently by this Honourable Court, the Respondents will continue to threaten and harass me everywhere I go.

“That I am not also aware of any offences committed by me and neither have I been extended any prior invitation before the 1st Respondent’s declaration on the 3rd day of November, 2025.

“That I am a law abiding citizen and if extended invitation by the 1st Respondent for a crime known to law, I would have honoured such invitation.

“That I am a person of high repute, being a human right activist, journalist, pro-democracy campaigner, and former presidential candidate in this country and the declaration of the 1st Respondent declaring me as a “wanted” criminal unlawfully taints my reputation and dignity contrary to my social status and that if unchecked or unrestrained now, the 1st Respondent and the 2nd and 3rd Respondents will give effect to a declaration I am still challenging here and stifle my freedom of movement and my right to personal liberty will be taken away,

“That since service is fundamental to the jurisdiction of the court, and difficulty in service of processes and hcaring notices might delay this case, it has become necessary to depose to the urgency of this matter as I scek leave of this Honourable Court to grant me leave to the applicant to serve the originating processes on the 2nd and 3rd respondents through the mode sought on the motion paper.

“That it is in the interest of justice to grant this application.

“That I depose to this affidavit in good faith, contentiously believing same to be true and in accordance with the Oaths Act.”