POLICE REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH ORDER TO PAY N30M DAMAGES TO SOWORE
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The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Moshood Jimoh, and the Nigeria Police Force have refused to comply with a Federal High Court judgment ordering them to pay ₦30 million in damages to former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, for unlawfully declaring him ‘wanted’.

Sowore, who is also the publisher of SaharaReporters, disclosed this on Monday, accusing the police authorities of disregarding a valid and subsisting court order.

According to him, “CP Bozo Moshood Jimoh of the Lagos State Police Command and the Nigeria Police Force have yet to comply with a Federal High court judgment ordering them to pay me ₦30 million in damages for illegally and unlawfully declaring me “WANTED.’”

The Federal High Court had ruled that the action of the police in declaring Sowore wanted was illegal, unlawful, and a violation of his fundamental rights. The court subsequently awarded ₦30 million in damages against the police authorities.

However, days after the judgment was delivered, Sowore says the police have failed to obey the court’s directive.

The police had declared Sowore “wanted” in October 2025.

Delivering judgment last week, Justice Musa Kaakaki of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, held that the action carried out by CP Jimoh of the Lagos State Police Command was illegal and a violation of Sowore’s fundamental rights.

Sowore disclosed the development shortly after the court session, describing the ruling as a resounding blow to what he termed persistent police impunity and abuse of power.

“While the illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun was busy running from courtroom to courtroom, desperately shopping for ex parte orders to cover monumental police illegalities, Justice Musa Kaakaki of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos delivered a resounding blow this morning to their tyranny,” Sowore said on his social media accounts on Friday.

The activist said the court did not mince words in condemning the actions of CP Jimoh.

“In a stinging and unequivocal rebuke, the court condemned CP Bozo Moshood Jimoh of the Lagos police command for unlawfully declaring me WANTED last year October and awarded ₦30 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force,” he stated.

According to Sowore, the judgment sends a clear warning to public officials who abuse their positions of authority.

“The judgment was clear, firm, and excruciatingly loud in its message: abuse of power has consequences,” he added.

The controversial “wanted” declaration had stirred outrage among civil society groups and rights advocates when it was announced in October 2025, with many describing it as politically motivated and a misuse of police powers against a government critic.

Sowore, a long-time activist and former presidential candidate, has had multiple confrontations with security agencies over his activism and public criticisms of government officials.

However, Friday’s ruling marks a significant legal victory in his protracted battles with law enforcement authorities.

He also commended his counsel, Barrister Tope Temokun, for what he described as steadfast legal representation throughout the proceedings.

“Barrister Tope Temokun anchored the case with diligence, courage, and precision. Justice prevailed, at least today,” Sowore said.

On November 14, 2025, SaharaReporters reported the Federal High Court in Lagos State had issued a strong warning to CP Jimoh after receiving reports that he continued to boast publicly that Sowore “remains wanted.”

The Lagos CP Jimoh made the boasts despite an existing court order restraining such actions.

The warning came during proceedings in the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Sowore against the police commissioner and other respondents.

Sowore, who is also the publisher of SaharaReporters, disclosed this on Monday, accusing the police authorities of disregarding a valid and subsisting court order.

According to him, “CP Bozo Moshood Jimoh of the Lagos State Police Command and the Nigeria Police Force have yet to comply with a Federal High court judgment ordering them to pay me ₦30 million in damages for illegally and unlawfully declaring me “WANTED.’”

The Federal High Court had ruled that the action of the police in declaring Sowore wanted was illegal, unlawful, and a violation of his fundamental rights. The court subsequently awarded ₦30 million in damages against the police authorities.

However, days after the judgment was delivered, Sowore says the police have failed to obey the court’s directive.

The police had declared Sowore “wanted” in October 2025.

Delivering judgment last week, Justice Musa Kaakaki of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, held that the action carried out by CP Jimoh of the Lagos State Police Command was illegal and a violation of Sowore’s fundamental rights.

Sowore disclosed the development shortly after the court session, describing the ruling as a resounding blow to what he termed persistent police impunity and abuse of power.

“While the illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun was busy running from courtroom to courtroom, desperately shopping for ex parte orders to cover monumental police illegalities, Justice Musa Kaakaki of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos delivered a resounding blow this morning to their tyranny,” Sowore said on his social media accounts on Friday.

The activist said the court did not mince words in condemning the actions of CP Jimoh.

“In a stinging and unequivocal rebuke, the court condemned CP Bozo Moshood Jimoh of the Lagos police command for unlawfully declaring me WANTED last year October and awarded ₦30 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force,” he stated.

According to Sowore, the judgment sends a clear warning to public officials who abuse their positions of authority.

“The judgment was clear, firm, and excruciatingly loud in its message: abuse of power has consequences,” he added.

The controversial “wanted” declaration had stirred outrage among civil society groups and rights advocates when it was announced in October 2025, with many describing it as politically motivated and a misuse of police powers against a government critic.

Sowore, a long-time activist and former presidential candidate, has had multiple confrontations with security agencies over his activism and public criticisms of government officials.

However, Friday’s ruling marks a significant legal victory in his protracted battles with law enforcement authorities.

He also commended his counsel, Barrister Tope Temokun, for what he described as steadfast legal representation throughout the proceedings.

“Barrister Tope Temokun anchored the case with diligence, courage, and precision. Justice prevailed, at least today,” Sowore said.

On November 14, 2025, SaharaReporters reported the Federal High Court in Lagos State had issued a strong warning to CP Jimoh after receiving reports that he continued to boast publicly that Sowore “remains wanted.”

The Lagos CP Jimoh made the boasts despite an existing court order restraining such actions.

The warning came during proceedings in the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Sowore against the police commissioner and other respondents.