The Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Nigeria Police Force acted unlawfully when it declared human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, wanted in 2025.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Musa Kakaaki held that the police action violated constitutional provisions and amounted to an abuse of power.
The court subsequently awarded ₦30 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh.
In a strongly worded decision, Justice Kakaaki reaffirmed that no Nigerian can be criminalised for exercising the right to free speech, peaceful protest, or for holding government authorities accountable.
The judge criticised what he described as the “lawlessness” of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and held the Inspector-General of Police responsible for the misconduct carried out under his command.
