The scheduled hearing in Sowore’s court challenge against the Lagos State Police Command suffered another setback on Friday after police lawyers served a fresh counter-affidavit inside the courtroom, forcing an adjournment.
The case, filed by rights activist and AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, seeks a judicial declaration that the “wanted” notice issued against him on November 3, 2025, by Lagos Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh was unconstitutional and violated his fundamental rights.
Presiding judge Justice Musa Kakaki was set to hear arguments in the suit when police representatives introduced a new counter-affidavit during proceedings. Sowore’s lead counsel, Tope Temokun, condemned the action as a deliberate last-minute ambush aimed at frustrating the case and delaying justice.
With the new filing, the court adjourned the matter to December 9, 2025, giving Sowore’s legal team time to respond.
Background
On November 3, the Lagos Police Command declared Sowore “wanted” over allegations relating to planned protests. The activist, through his lawyers, described the declaration as unlawful, arguing that the police lacked the authority to issue such a notice without investigation, charge, or a court order.
A Federal High Court subsequently issued an interim order restraining the police from arresting, harassing, or further declaring him wanted pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Why the Delay Matters
Human rights observers say the repeated delays show a pattern in politically sensitive cases, where procedural tactics are used to stall hearings. Sowore’s team insists that today’s police action further proves institutional abuse of power and disregard for due process.
What to Expect
The adjourned hearing on December 9 is expected to determine whether the police had legal grounds for the “wanted” declaration and whether Sowore’s rights were violated.
As public interest in Sowore’s court case grows, civil society groups and legal analysts are keeping a close watch on what this ruling will signal for accountability, policing standards, and constitutional freedoms in Nigeria.
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