The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim order restraining the Lagos State Police Command and its Commissioner of Police from arresting, harassing or intimidating Omoyele Sowore. Justice Musa Kakaki recently granted the order on Wednesday following a suit filed by Sowore seeking protection of his fundamental rights.
The court ordered that the police must not arrest, detain, threaten, or declare him wanted pending the determination of the substantive case.
In his supporting affidavit, Sowore shared that he was declared wanted without being served any formal invitation or warrant of arrest by the police.
He stated that the public declaration by Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh was a clear infringement on his constitutional rights to dignity, liberty and movement.
The activist maintained that the action of the police is simply an attempt to silence his activism and damage his reputation as a journalist and former presidential candidate.
“Unless restrained urgently by this Honourable Court, the respondents will continue to threaten and harass me everywhere I go,” he said.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Sowore hailed the ruling as a reinforcement of judicial independence.
He concluded by saying that despite widespread doubts about the justice system, Nigerians must continue to demand accountability and fairness.
“Many people say they don’t trust the judiciary, but the trust in our judiciary is not up to the judges — it is up to citizens who show up to say justice must be done,” he added.
