Sowore: Police challenge fundamental rights judgment, insist intelligence guided wanted declaration
The Nigeria Police Force have challenged the judgment of a Federal High Court, which declared that Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Olohundare Jimoh breached the right to dignity of
The Nigeria Police Force have challenged the judgment of a Federal High Court, which declared that Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP) Olohundare Jimoh breached the right to dignity of activist, Omoyele Sowore by declaring him wanted last October.
Trial judge, Justice Musa Kakaki, at the weekend delivered judgment in the suit filed by Sowore against CP Olohundare, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), awarding N30m in favour of the plaintiff.
The court also ruled that the police violated Sowore’s right to freedom of movement by warning him to stay away from Lagos ahead of a planned protest in October 2025.
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Dissatisfied by the judgment, the police in a Notice of Appeal seen by our Correspondent argued that the trial judge erred in his decision that declaring Sowore wanted was unlawful.
The police argued that the right to freedom of movement is not absolute and can be restricted in the interest of public safety, maintaining that their warning to Sowore was linked specifically to the October 27, 2025 protest, which they said disrupted movement on major roads and highways. According to them, as law enforcement authorities, they have a duty to protect lives and property and to ensure public order.
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The appellants also fault the trial court’s finding that declaring Sowore wanted was unlawful, contending that the action was connected to protests held on October 27 and November 3, 2025, which they claimed led to a breakdown of law and order in parts of Lagos, including the Oworonshoki section of the Third Mainland Bridge.
They argued that the declaration was necessary in the wider interest of maintaining peace, accusing the trial judge of failing to properly consider two key documents- an intelligence report on the planned November 3 protest and an incident report on events of that day.
The police insisted that intelligence reports can lawfully guide security action, even without formal complaints from members of the public.
The appellants are asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court and grant any further orders it considers appropriate in the circumstances.
