From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Nigeria Police Force, has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the N30 million damages awarded to activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, by the Federal High Court in Lagos over his declaration as a wanted person.
In the notice of appeal dated February 20, 2026, the police, alongside the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, are seeking to overturn the judgment delivered by Justice Musa Kaakaki.
The lower court had ruled that the police acted unlawfully by declaring Sowore wanted without obtaining a court order and further held that directing him to stay away from Lagos violated his constitutional right to freedom of movement. The court consequently awarded N30 million in damages against the police authorities.
However, in their appeal, the police argued that the trial judge erred in law by treating the right to freedom of movement as absolute. According to them, the Constitution allows restrictions on such rights in the interest of public safety, security and order.
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The appellants maintained that their directive was based on intelligence reports concerning a planned protest slated for October 27, 2025. They claimed the protest posed a significant threat to public peace and could have disrupted movement along major routes in Lagos, including the Third Mainland Bridge.
The police further faulted the decision declaring Sowore’s “wanted” status unlawful, insisting that the action was informed by security reports allegedly linking him to disturbances in parts of Lagos, particularly Oworonshoki.
They contended that the trial court failed to properly evaluate exhibits tendered before it, including intelligence briefs and incident reports relied upon in taking the disputed actions.
Urging the appellate court to allow the appeal, the police asked that the judgment of the Federal High Court be set aside and the suit dismissed in its entirety.
Counsel from Lawlinks Legal Practitioners signed the notice of appeal on behalf of the police authorities, while Tope Temokun represented Sowore in the matter.
As of the time of filing this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.
