In a major legal victory for civil rights and constitutional democracy, the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, presided over by Justice Kakaki, has issued an interim injunction restraining the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Nigeria Police Force from enforcing or acting upon their recent “wanted” declaration against human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
The court order, granted earlier today, prohibits the police from further declaring Sowore wanted, threatening, arresting, or taking any action based on the purported declaration pending the hearing of the substantive suit scheduled for November 14, 2025.
The ruling followed an ex parte application filed by Sowore’s counsel, Tope Temokun, who sought urgent judicial protection of his client’s constitutional rights after the Lagos Police Command publicly declared Sowore “wanted” without any lawful court order or warrant.
Reacting to the development, Temokun described the ruling as a victory for the rule of law, emphasizing that it reaffirms the principle that power must operate within the bounds of the Constitution.
“This order stands as a loud statement that despite the seeds of anarchy being sown daily by those meant to protect the law, the law still breathes in this country,” Temokun said. “No citizen can be stripped of liberty or dignity by arbitrary police action if we remain resolute in challenging every injustice from the powerful.”
The case, which stems from Sowore’s involvement in the Lagos Anti-Demolition Protest, has drawn national attention, raising serious questions about police overreach and the shrinking space for civic dissent in Nigeria.
As the matter returns to court on November 14, all eyes will be on whether the police leadership will comply with the court’s restraining order—or risk further legal and public backlash for defying the judiciary.