A Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the hearing of a significant N1.2 billion fundamental rights lawsuit filed by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore. The case targets top security and legal officials in Nigeria, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
Case Adjourned as Defendants Fail to Appear
Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court rescheduled the matter to March 10, 2026, for a definite hearing. This decision came during a court session on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, when the defendants were notably absent.
Sowore's legal representative, Marshal Abubakar, informed the court that although all parties had been served a hearing notice, none of the defendants were present. No explanation was provided for their absence. Abubakar subsequently requested that the matter be formally mentioned and a new date set. The judge agreed, adjourning the case and ordering that fresh hearing notices be served on the respondents.
Details of Sowore's Allegations and Demands
The suit stems from events that occurred on October 23 and 24, 2025. Sowore, the 2023 presidential flagbearer for the Action Alliance Congress (AAC), alleges he was illegally arrested, detained, and arraigned by police officers in Abuja. He claims the arrest took place within the premises of the Federal High Court itself while he was attending legal proceedings.
In court documents, Sowore accuses the police of a flagrant abuse of power and a blatant violation of his constitutionally guaranteed rights. The suit, filed under relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, seeks several declarations from the court.
The core declarations sought include:
- That his arrest on October 23, 2025, was illegal, oppressive, and unlawful, violating his right to personal liberty.
- That his harassment, restraint, and detention on the same date violated his constitutional right to freedom of movement.
- That his arraignment on October 24, 2025, was a continuation of these violations, breaching his right to dignity.
Substantial Reliefs and Compensation Sought
Beyond the declarations, Sowore's legal team is pursuing substantial remedies. The suit asks the court to compel the Attorney General of the Federation to initiate disciplinary action against the IGP and the FCT Commissioner of Police under laws including the Anti-Torture Act.
Furthermore, Sowore demands a public apology to be published in at least three national newspapers. The financial claims are significant, seeking N200 million in general damages for the unlawful arrest and detention, and an additional N1 billion as punitive and exemplary damages for the violation of his fundamental human rights. This brings the total claim to N1.2 billion.
The respondents in the suit are the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, and the Attorney General of the Federation. The court's decision on March 10, 2026, will mark a crucial step in this high-profile legal battle concerning citizens' rights and police conduct.
