ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over what he described as his unlawful arrest and detention.
The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, also lists the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, as respondents.
In court documents accompanying the suit, Sowore alleged that he was arbitrarily arrested on October 23, 2025, without a warrant or valid court order, in connection with a peaceful protest.
According to the affidavit personally deposed to by the applicant, the arrest occurred within the vicinity of the court premises, based on allegations that he violated a subsisting court order.
Sowore maintained that he was never served with any restraining order prior to the protest and argued that the respondents ought to have returned to court if they believed an order had been breached, rather than resorting to what he described as self-help.
“I neither violated any court order nor contravened any law in Nigeria to justify my arrest on October 23, 2025,” Sowore stated.
He further disclosed that he was arraigned the following day, October 24, 2025, on allegations bordering on contempt of court, stressing that the charges were vague and unsupported by evidence.
The applicant contended that his arrest and detention amounted to a gross violation of his fundamental rights as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and relevant international human rights instruments.
He alleged that despite his detention, the respondents failed to specify any concrete offence committed by him, insisting that participation in a peaceful protest could not justify his incarceration.
Sowore further accused the respondents of deliberately targeting him in a bid to intimidate and silence him for exercising his constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
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He also claimed that the actions of the respondents amounted to torture, contrary to the provisions of the Anti-Torture Act, which he noted prescribes severe penalties for offenders and allows no justification or exemption.
According to him, the Federal High Court has the constitutional responsibility to intervene in cases of rights violations, insisting that judicial protection remains his only available remedy.
In the reliefs sought, Sowore urged the court to declare his arrest, detention and alleged harassment illegal, oppressive and unconstitutional, citing violations of his rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, and human dignity.
He specifically referenced Sections 35(1), 41(1) and 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In addition, Sowore is demanding a total of N1.2 billion as general and exemplary damages for the alleged rights violations.
He is also seeking an order compelling the respondents to tender a public apology to him in at least three national newspapers.
When the matter was mentioned in court on Wednesday, none of the respondents was represented by legal counsel.
Consequently, Justice Mohammed Umar ordered that fresh hearing notices be served on all the respondents and adjourned the case until March 10, 2026, for hearing.