By Ayomide Otitoju
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday adjourned the N1.2 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and other respondents to March 10 for a definite hearing.
Sowore filed the suit over his arrest, detention, and arraignment by the police in Abuja on October 23 and 24, 2025. At Wednesday’s proceedings, his lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, informed the court that while the matter was slated for mention, none of the defendants—who had been served with hearing notices—were present, nor did they provide reasons for their absence.
Abubakar requested that the matter be deemed mentioned and a date set for a full hearing and adoption of processes. Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the case to March 10 and directed that hearing notices be served on all defendants.
In the suit, Sowore seeks declarations that his arrest, harassment, restraint, and arraignment were “illegal, oppressive, and unlawful.” The originating motion, filed under 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, accuses the police of gross abuse of power and violation of his constitutionally guaranteed rights to liberty, dignity, and movement.
The motion calls for the court to declare that:
His arrest on October 23, 2025, was illegal and violated his right to personal liberty under Section 35(1) of the Constitution.
His detention and harassment breached his freedom of movement under Section 41(1) and Article 12 of the African Charter.
His arraignment on October 24, 2025, further violated his rights to dignity and freedom from arbitrary detention.
In a supporting affidavit, Sowore narrated that he was arrested within the Federal High Court premises while attending to legal proceedings, over alleged participation in a peaceful protest. He described the police actions as resorting to “self-help rather than due process.”
The suit seeks orders compelling the Attorney General of the Federation to discipline the IGP and the FCT Commissioner of Police under the Anti-Torture Act 2017 and the Violence Against Persons Act. It also demands that the respondents issue a public apology in at least three national newspapers and pay N200 million in general damages and N1 billion in punitive damages, totaling N1.2 billion, for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
Sowore’s lawyers argue that the police actions amounted to oppression, abuse of power, and violation of human dignity, and that he is entitled to both compensation and a public apology.
