Former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore has filed a ₦500 million lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, accusing them of violating his fundamental rights by publicly declaring him wanted.
The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeks enforcement of Sowore’s rights to dignity, liberty, and freedom of movement as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Sowore, through his team of human rights lawyers — Tope Temokun, Marshal Abubakar, Inibehe Effiong, A.E. Adegoroye, Moshood Shittu, Deji Adeyanju, O.D. Olatunde, and I.E. Osunyikanmi — described the police declaration made on November 3, 2025, as unlawful and damaging to his reputation.
In an affidavit of urgency personally deposed to, Sowore said the Lagos Police Commissioner had named him a “wanted person” through the media without any formal invitation, warrant, or criminal charge.
He is asking the court for:
- An interim injunction restraining the police from harassing, intimidating, arresting, or further portraying him as a wanted person.
- A stay of execution on the public declaration until the court determines his substantive motion.
- An order for substituted service, allowing the originating processes to be delivered through the Lagos State Police Command.
Sowore described the police action as a deliberate attempt to silence his activism and tarnish his public image.
“I am a law-abiding citizen. If extended an invitation for a lawful investigation, I would have honoured it,” he stated.
“The declaration unlawfully taints my reputation and dignity as a human rights activist, journalist, and former presidential candidate.”
He urged the court to restrain the police from further harassment or attempts to arrest him, arguing that his fundamental rights to dignity and free movement have been grossly violated.
Sowore further maintained that unless the court urgently intervenes, the police would continue to act on the “illegal declaration,” thereby threatening his freedom and safety.