A Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the decision to declare activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, wanted in 2025 was unlawful.

Justice Musa Kakaki held that the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, violated Sowore’s fundamental rights by issuing the wanted notice without a court warrant or prior formal invitation.

The court awarded N30 million in damages against the commissioner and the Nigeria Police Force.

Sowore had been declared wanted on November 3, 2025, following his participation in a protest against demolitions in Oworonshoki, Lagos. Police authorities claimed he was attempting to incite public disturbance.

However, in his suit, Sowore maintained that he was never served any warrant of arrest nor invited formally by the police before the public declaration.

Counsel to the activist, Tope Temokun, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a significant judicial stand against arbitrary use of power.

He stated that the court clarified that only a court of law can declare a citizen wanted, and only upon proof that the individual is evading lawful process.

The judgment, he added, reinforces constitutional safeguards and affirms that civic engagement and questioning government actions do not amount to criminal conduct.