Sowore’s Counsel Faults Police Over ‘Unlawful’ Declaration of Activist as Wanted

Lagos — Legal counsel to human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the Lagos State Police Command for declaring his client wanted, describing the move as unconstitutional and lacking any legal basis.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, the counsel said that “there is no law in Nigeria that empowers the police to declare anybody wanted” without a valid court order.

According to him, declaring a person wanted is a judicial process, not a discretionary police action.

“When you are looking for somebody and cannot find him after a criminal complaint, investigation, or charge — and the person is evading arrest — that is when you can seek the order of the court,” he explained.

He further stated that publishing an individual as wanted without a court’s authorization amounts to defamation and a violation of constitutional rights.

“Declaring Sowore wanted in this manner is arbitrary and reflects total ignorance of the law they claim to be enforcing,” he said.

The lawyer stressed that every Nigerian citizen enjoys the right to freedom of movement and personal liberty as guaranteed by the Constitution, adding that “before you can declare a person a fugitive or outlaw, it must not stem from personal malice; it must follow due process backed by a court order.”

He also revealed that the case is already before the court, which has issued a restraining order against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police from enforcing the declaration.

Court Restrains Police

A Federal High Court in Lagos had earlier restrained the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, and other security agencies from arresting, intimidating, or declaring Sowore wanted.

The order followed a suit filed by the activist after the police accused him of plotting to disrupt public peace through a planned protest in the state.

Commissioner Jimoh had told journalists in Lagos that Sowore was wanted “for causing a disturbance of public peace and for acts to commit a serious felony by planning to obstruct traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge.”

He alleged that the police uncovered plans by Sowore and his supporters to stage demonstrations that could cause hardship for Lagos residents and visitors.