The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim order restraining the Lagos State Police Command and its Commissioner of Police from arresting, harassing, or intimidating Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and human rights activist.
Justice Musa Kakaki granted the order on Wednesday following a suit filed by Sowore seeking protection of his fundamental rights. The court directed that the police must not arrest, detain, threaten, or declare him wanted pending the determination of the substantive case.
In his supporting affidavit, Sowore stated that he was declared wanted without being served any formal invitation or warrant of arrest by the police. He argued that the public declaration by Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh had infringed on his constitutional rights to dignity, liberty, and movement.
He further contended that the action of the police was intended to silence his activism and damage his reputation as a journalist and former presidential candidate.
“Unless restrained urgently by this Honourable Court, the respondents will continue to threaten and harass me everywhere I go,” he stated.
The Lagos police commissioner had on Monday declared Sowore wanted, alleging that he attempted to incite public unrest during a visit to Oworonshoki over the demolition of buildings in the area. Jimoh, who maintained the position earlier on Wednesday, vowed to arrest and prosecute Sowore for alleged disturbance of public peace.
In reaction to the court’s decision, Sowore hailed the ruling as a reinforcement of judicial independence. He said despite widespread doubts about the justice system, citizens must continue to demand accountability and fairness.
“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,” Sowore said, expressing gratitude to the court for “the courage” to grant the order.
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