Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has filed a ₦500 million lawsuit against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, for allegedly violating his fundamental rights.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeks the enforcement of Sowore’s rights to dignity, liberty, and freedom of movement, as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The legal action, instituted 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 follow a public announcement on 3 November 2025 in which the Lagos Commissioner of Police declared Sowore “wanted.”
In an affidavit of urgency personally sworn to by Sowore, he stated that the declaration was made without any prior police invitation, arrest warrant, or formal charge. He said the move has severely infringed on his constitutional rights and damaged his reputation.
The motion, brought under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, seeks among other reliefs, an order granting leave to serve court processes on the Inspector-General of Police and State Commissioner of Police by substituted means through the Lagos State Police Command.
An interim injunction restraining the police and their agents from harassing, intimidating, arresting, or further declaring him a fugitive pending the hearing of the substantive motion. A stay of operation on the public declaration naming him as “wanted” until the court determines the matter.
Sowore maintains that he has not committed any offence and would have honoured any lawful invitation if issued.
He argued that the declaration was intended to suppress his activism and silence his voice as a journalist and pro-democracy advocate.
He urged the court to protect his rights and halt any further police action based on the disputed declaration.
In the affidavit, Sowore stated, “I am a law-abiding citizen and a person of high repute. The declaration portraying me as a ‘wanted’ criminal unlawfully taints my reputation and dignity. If not urgently restrained, the Respondents will continue to threaten and harass me and attempt to restrict my freedom of movement.”
He further noted that substituted service was necessary due to anticipated challenges in effecting direct service of court documents.
Sowore concluded that granting the application is in the interest of justice and fundamental rights protection.