- Justice Musa Kaakaki ruled that the Lagos Police Command’s action violated Sowore’s fundamental rights.
- The ₦30 million damages follow the unlawful declaration of the activist as “wanted” in October 2025.
- The court condemned CP Moshood Jimoh for continuing to boast about the illegal status despite judicial warnings.
The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to pay ₦30 million in damages to human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
Eko Hot Blog reports that delivering judgment on Friday, February 20, 2026, Justice Musa Kaakaki held that the decision of the Lagos State Police Command to declare the activist “wanted” in October 2025 was illegal, unconstitutional, and a direct violation of his fundamental rights.
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The court found that the police failed to follow due legal process before making such a public declaration against a citizen who had not been properly charged or served with a warrant in relation to the claims.
Sowore, who spoke shortly after the court session, described the ruling as a significant victory against what he characterized as persistent police impunity.
He noted that the judgment serves as a formal rebuke of the tactics employed by the police leadership.
The activist specifically referenced his legal battles during the tenure of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, alleging that the police had been “desperately shopping for ex parte orders” to legitimize their actions. “Justice Musa Kaakaki of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi delivered a resounding blow this morning to their tyranny,” Sowore stated via his social media accounts, adding that the court did not mince words in condemning the actions of the Lagos State Police Command.
The presiding judge was particularly critical of the conduct of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Moshood Jimoh.
The court held that the declaration was not only unlawful but was maintained with a level of defiance that undermined the judiciary. During the proceedings, it was revealed that CP Moshood Jimoh had continued to publicly assert that Sowore remained a wanted man even after earlier court interventions.
Sowore noted in his reaction that the judge’s stinging rebuke of the officer, whom he referred to as “CP Bozo Moshood Jimoh,” highlighted the personal liability that public officials may face when they abuse their offices.
The legal battle dates back to October 2025, when the “wanted” declaration first surfaced, drawing heavy criticism from civil society organizations and human rights advocates.
On November 14, 2025, the Federal High Court had issued a stern warning to the Lagos CP after reports reached the bench that the police chief was boasting about the status of the activist despite an existing court order.
The case, brought under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, saw the police eventually file a defense, which the court ultimately found to be without merit.
Justice Kaakaki’s final ruling on Friday emphasized that “abuse of power has consequences” and that the award of ₦30 million was a necessary measure to compensate for the damage done to the activist’s reputation and liberty.
Sowore also used the occasion to commend his lead counsel, Barrister Tope Temokun, for his “steadfast legal representation” throughout the duration of the suit.
He credited the legal team for anchoring the case with diligence and precision, ensuring that the police were held accountable for their extra-judicial actions.
The judgment concludes a protracted legal struggle that had become a focal point for discussions on the misuse of security agencies to target political critics and activists in Nigeria.
The ₦30 million award is expected to be paid by the Nigeria Police Force as the primary respondent in the fundamental rights enforcement suit.
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