Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has postponed the N1.2 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted by human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other parties, fixing March 10 for a definite hearing.
Sowore instituted the suit against the IGP and other respondents following his arrest, detention and arraignment by police authorities in Abuja.
During proceedings, his counsel, Marshal Abubakar, informed the court that the case was scheduled for mention, but noted that none of the defendants appeared in court despite being duly served with hearing notices. According to him, no explanation was provided for their absence.
He therefore urged the court to treat the matter as properly mentioned and to set a date for a definite hearing and adoption of processes.
Acting on the application, Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the suit until March 10 for a definite hearing and ordered that fresh hearing notices be served on all the defendants.
In the suit, Sowore is asking the court to make several declarations that his arrest, harassment, restraint and subsequent arraignment on October 23 and 24, 2025, were “illegal, oppressive, and unlawful.”
Through an originating motion filed by his legal team led by Marshal Abubakar, the activist accused the police of gross abuse of power and a clear violation of his constitutionally protected rights to personal liberty, dignity and freedom of movement.
The application, filed pursuant to Sections 34, 35, 37, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Articles 2, 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, seeks multiple reliefs, including a declaration that:
“The arrest of the applicant by the agents of the respondents on 23rd October, 2025, is illegal, oppressive, unlawful, and constitutes a blatant violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to personal liberty as enshrined in Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Sowore also wants the court to declare that his alleged harassment, restraint and detention on the same date amounted to a breach of his right to freedom of movement under Section 41(1) of the Constitution and Article 12 of the African Charter.
“The harassment, restraint, arrest, and detention of the applicant by the agents of the respondents on 23rd October, 2025, is illegal, oppressive, unlawful, and constitutes a blatant violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to freedom of movement,” the court document stated in part.
He further argued that his arraignment on October 24, 2025, was a continuation of the alleged constitutional breaches, contending that it violated his right to dignity of the human person and protection against arbitrary detention.
In an affidavit supporting the motion, Sowore recounted that he was arrested within the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja while attending legal proceedings, allegedly in connection with a peaceful protest.
“I was arrested on the 23rd October, 2025, within the vicinity of this honourable court over allegations that I took part in a peaceful protest”, the affidavit stated, while accusing the police of resorting to “self-help rather than due process.”
He also asked the court to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to commence disciplinary proceedings against the IGP and the Commissioner of Police, FCT, in line with applicable laws, including the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, and the Violence Against Persons Act.
The suit further seeks an order compelling the 1st to 3rd respondents, the IGP, the Nigeria Police Force and the FCT Commissioner of Police, to publish a public apology to Sowore in at least three national newspapers for the alleged violation of his rights.
Additionally, Sowore is demanding N200 million as general damages for what he described as unlawful arrest and detention, alongside N1 billion as punitive and exemplary damages for the “illegal violation” of his fundamental human rights.
According to the court documents, the activist insists that he is entitled to compensation and a public apology, arguing that the actions of the police “amounted to oppression, abuse of power, and a violation of human dignity.”
“The applicant is entitled to an order compelling the respondents to pay N1.2billion as damages and to tender public apologies for the blatant violation of his fundamental rights without following due process of law,” the suit added.
What you should know
Omoyele Sowore is a prominent Nigerian human rights activist and former presidential candidate who has frequently clashed with security agencies over protests and civil rights issues.
Fundamental rights enforcement suits are legal actions designed to protect citizens from abuses by state authorities under Nigeria’s Constitution and international treaties.
The outcome of this case could further shape debates around police accountability, protest rights and the treatment of activists in Nigeria, especially as courts increasingly serve as arenas for challenging alleged abuses of power by law enforcement agencies.
