•IGP Egbetokun and Sowore
Today’s judgment stands as a loud constitutional warning against the abuse of state power in Nigeria.
Justice M. Kakaki of the Federal High Court Lagos, has in a judgement delivered and read for one hour and thirty minutes, ruled against the Commissioner of Police of Lagos, CP Moshood Jimoh and the IGP Egbetokun in the case filed by Omoyele Sowore to challenge his being declared wanted in Lagos on the 3rd of November 2025 and awarded ₦30 million in damages against the CP and the IGP.
The court reaffirmed a fundamental truth: no Nigerian can be criminalized for speaking, protesting, or holding government accountable. Declaring a citizen wanted without lawful authority is not policing, it is oppression, and our Constitution firmly rejects it.
This victory is not merely for Omoyele Sowore but it belongs to every Nigerian who refuses to surrender freedom to intimidation.
The Court awarded ₦30 million in damages against the CP and the IGP. But let it be clearly stated: money was not the true reward of this case. The real victory lies in the profound jurisprudential value of the judgment.
In a deeply reasoned decision grounded in law and history, the Court condemned the lawlessness of the Commissioner of Police and held the Inspector-General of Police accountable for that misconduct.
The Court traced the historical practice of declaring citizens wanted and made it clear that the law has evolved: only a court of law, upon issuance of a warrant, proper notice, and proof that a citizen is evading lawful process, can authorize such declaration.
The Court held that:
the pronouncement of the CP of 27 October 2025, warning Omoyele Sowore to stay away from Lagos, was arbitrary, unconstitutional, and beyond police powers.
The declaration of 3 November 2025 branding Sowore wanted was illegal, ultra vires, unconstitutional, and a grave abuse of power.
The misconduct of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, attracted judicial condemnation, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was held liable for that improper exercise of authority.
This judgment restores constitutional order.
We salute the courage of the Court for standing firmly on the side of justice, liberty, and constitutional governance. We appreciate this courage demonstrated by our court, where power bows before law and freedom prevails over intimidation.
One problem with Nigerians is the lack of will to consolidate on their gain. Nigerians must now stand up to consolidate on this historical donation by the judiciary, that asking questions is not a crime in Nigeria and that citizenship is not obedience to unlawful authority.
*Tope Temokun is Counsel to Omoyele Sowore
