Justice Musa Kakaki grants interim order protecting journalist and activist from alleged harassment and intimidation….
The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim order restraining the Lagos State Police Command and its Commissioner of Police from arresting, harassing, or intimidating Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and human rights activist.
Justice Musa Kakaki granted the order on Wednesday in response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Sowore. The court directed that the police must not arrest, detain, threaten, or declare him wanted pending the determination of the substantive case.
In his supporting affidavit, Sowore alleged that the police declared him wanted without issuing any formal invitation or warrant of arrest. He argued that the public declaration by Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh violated his constitutional rights to dignity, liberty, and freedom of movement.
Sowore further claimed that the move by the police was intended to silence his activism and tarnish his reputation as a journalist and former presidential candidate.
“Unless restrained urgently by this Honourable Court, the respondents will continue to threaten and harass me everywhere I go,” he stated.
The development follows a declaration by the Lagos Police Commissioner on Monday, in which Sowore was accused of attempting to incite public unrest during a visit to Oworonshoki, where residents had protested the demolition of several buildings in the area.
Jimoh, who reaffirmed his stance earlier on Wednesday, vowed to arrest and prosecute Sowore for alleged disturbance of public peace.
Reacting to the court’s ruling, Sowore described the decision as a victory for judicial independence and urged Nigerians to continue trusting and engaging with the justice system.
“Many people say they don’t trust the judiciary, but the trust in our judiciary is not up to the judges, it is up to citizens who show up to say justice must be done,” Sowore said, expressing gratitude to the court for what he called “the courage to stand for justice.”
The case is expected to continue at a later date, when the court will determine the substantive application on the enforcement of Sowore’s fundamental human rights.
