Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has dragged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, and the Attorney General of the Federation before the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding ₦1.2 billion in damages over what he described as his illegal arrest, detention, and arraignment by police operatives in Abuja.
The suit, filed by a team of 20 human rights lawyers led by Tope Temokun, seeks several declarations that his arrest and subsequent arraignment on October 23 and 24, 2025, were “illegal, oppressive, and unlawful.”
In the suit filed pursuant to Sections 34, 35, 37, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 2, 5, 6, and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Sowore alleged that the police actions amounted to a “blatant violation” of his constitutional rights to liberty, dignity, and movement.
Quoting directly from the motion, the activist stated: “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.”
Sowore further argued that his harassment, restraint, and detention violated Section 41(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of movement.
“The harassment, restraint, arrest, and detention of the applicant by the agents of the respondents… constitutes a blatant violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to freedom of movement,” the document stated.
In his supporting affidavit, the activist narrated that he was arrested within the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja while attending a legal proceeding.
“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 complainants alleged violated a previous order made by this honourable court,” Sowore said.
He added that no such order was ever served on him, accusing the police of resorting to “self-help rather than due process.”
Sowore’s legal team is asking the court to order the respondents to jointly pay ₦200 million as general damages for the unlawful arrest and detention, and an additional ₦1 billion as punitive and exemplary damages for what they termed “illegal violation of his fundamental human rights.”
The suit also seeks an order compelling the IGP, Nigeria Police Force, and the FCT Commissioner of Police to tender a public apology in at least three national newspapers for violating Sowore’s rights.
Furthermore, the activist is asking the court to direct the Attorney General of the Federation to initiate disciplinary actions against the IGP and the FCT Police Commissioner under the Anti-Torture Act of 2017 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
“The applicant is entitled to an order compelling the respondents to pay ₦1.2 billion as damages and to tender public apologies for the blatant violation of his fundamental rights without following due process of law,” the suit reads.
According to the originating motion, the police’s conduct breached multiple provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter, and other international human rights treaties binding on Nigeria.
“The actions of the respondents constitute a gross violation of Sections 34(1), 35, 37, and 41 of the Constitution and Articles 2, 5, 6, and 12 of the African Charter,” Sowore’s legal representatives maintained.
The suit, filed under the legal partnership Steel Attorneys, bears the signatures of 20 human rights lawyers, including Marshal Abubakar, Pelumi Olajengbesi, Inibehe Effiong, Deji Adeyanju, Ahmed Tijjani Yusuf, Rahila Dauda, Festus Ogun, and Michael Owolabi.
According to SaharaReporters, Court documents obtained by the media platform confirmed that the case was officially filed and acknowledged by the Federal High Court Cashier’s Office, Abuja, on November 12, 2025.
