Court Bars Police From Declaring Sowore Wanted
The Federal High Court, Lagos, has stopped the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies from declaring the Publisher of SaharaReporters online newspaper and rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, wanted.
The Federal High Court, Lagos, has stopped the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies from declaring the Publisher of SaharaReporters online newspaper and rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, wanted.
The court also barred the police from arresting and intimidating Sowore, who was the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC.
The court presided over by Justice Musa Kakaki, gave order following an application filed by Sowore after reports emerged that the Lagos State Police Command had allegedly declared him wanted in connection with unspecified allegations.
In his ruling, Justice Kakaki granted an interim injunction restraining the respondents, particularly the Commissioner of Police, from “harassing, intimidating, threatening with arrest, or declaring the applicant wanted pending the determination of the substantive suit.”
In his comments shortly after the ruling, Sowore said the order marked a reaffirmation of his faith in the Nigerian judiciary, even in the face of widespread public skepticism about the system.
He further said the court order served as a reminder that the rule of law still mattered in the country, despite increasing cases of political intimidation and misuse of state institutions.
According to him, the decision demonstrated that justice is still possible when citizens actively engage the courts to defend their rights.
His words, “Many people say they don’t trust the judiciary, but the trust in our judiciary is not up to the judges—it is up to citizens who show up to say justice must be done.
“I thank the court for having the courage to take up this matter late in the day and for granting this important order."
He described the action of the police as a “drunken declaration,” pointing out that, no criminal case or invitation had been extended to him before the move to label him a fugitive.
“Under the law, the police do not have the power to just wake up and describe somebody as wanted without any investigation or invitation.
It shows how far institutions have strayed from legality.
“This struggle is not about me. It is about justice and freedom for all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or religion.
“The police or anyone in authority must not think they can silence dissent through intimidation.
“When the state begins to act outside the law, it creates an atmosphere of fear and injustice. But we must resist that peacefully.
“Nigeria can only progress when law enforcement institutions operate within their constitutional limits.
“The judge was already tired; it was the last case of the day. Yet he still gave it his attention. That’s what courage looks like,” Sowore added.
The court presided over by Justice Musa Kakaki, gave order following an application filed by Sowore after reports emerged that the Lagos State Police Command had allegedly declared him wanted in connection with unspecified allegations.
In his ruling, Justice Kakaki granted an interim injunction restraining the respondents, particularly the Commissioner of Police, from “harassing, intimidating, threatening with arrest, or declaring the applicant wanted pending the determination of the substantive suit.”
In his comments shortly after the ruling, Sowore said the order marked a reaffirmation of his faith in the Nigerian judiciary, even in the face of widespread public skepticism about the system.
He further said the court order served as a reminder that the rule of law still mattered in the country, despite increasing cases of political intimidation and misuse of state institutions.
According to him, the decision demonstrated that justice is still possible when citizens actively engage the courts to defend their rights.
His words, “Many people say they don’t trust the judiciary, but the trust in our judiciary is not up to the judges—it is up to citizens who show up to say justice must be done.
“I thank the court for having the courage to take up this matter late in the day and for granting this important order."
He described the action of the police as a “drunken declaration,” pointing out that, no criminal case or invitation had been extended to him before the move to label him a fugitive.
“Under the law, the police do not have the power to just wake up and describe somebody as wanted without any investigation or invitation.
It shows how far institutions have strayed from legality.
“This struggle is not about me. It is about justice and freedom for all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or religion.
“The police or anyone in authority must not think they can silence dissent through intimidation.
“When the state begins to act outside the law, it creates an atmosphere of fear and injustice. But we must resist that peacefully.
“Nigeria can only progress when law enforcement institutions operate within their constitutional limits.
“The judge was already tired; it was the last case of the day. Yet he still gave it his attention. That’s what courage looks like,” Sowore added.
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