An activist, Omoyele Sowore, has sued the Minster of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Tunji Egbetokun, at a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking N1 2 billion damages for unlawfully arrest
In the suit, Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the 2023 polls, alleged that he was arbitrarily arrested and detained without a court order.
He also listed the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT). as one of he defendants.
In an affidavit he personally deposed to in support of the legal action, Sowore averred that he was on October 23, 2025, arrested within the vicinity of the court over an allegation that he took part in a peaceful protest that was against a subsisting order.
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Insisting that he was not served any restraining order before the protest was held, the plaintiff argued that instead of reverting to the court to report his alleged disobedience to its order, he said the respondents “resorted to self-help by arresting me and other Comrades.”
“That I neither violated any Court order nor run afoul of any law in Nigeria to warrant my arrest on the 23rd of October, 2025.
“That I was subsequently arraigned by the respondents on the 24th October, 2025 over allegations of violating an order made by this honourable Court.
“That I know as a fact that my arrest and detention is contrary to and violative of my rights as a Nigerian citizen.
“That despite detaining me, the respondents have failed to provide any concrete evidence or define a specific crime allegedly committed by the Applicant and the vile allegation that I took part in protest is insufficient to justify his detention.
“That this Honourable Court has the Constitutional mandate to intervene in cases where the fundamental rights of citizens are violated. The Applicant has no other remedy but to seek the intervention of this Honourable Court to safeguard his rights.
“The Respondents’ actions are a deliberate attempt to intimidate and silence the Applicant for exercising his constitutional rights.
“That I know as a fact that the act and conduct of the Respondents aside violating chapter IV of the Constitution also amounts to torture which has been prohibited by the Anti- Torture Act and that the offence of torture attracts a 25 years jail term.
“That I know as a fact that the Anti- Torture Act also recognizes neither exceptions nor justification for torture.
“That it would be in the best interest of justice for this Honourable Court to grant the reliefs sought herein,” Sowore pleaded.
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Aside from praying the court to award to him an aggregate sum of N1. 2 billion to serve as general and exemplary damages, the Applicant, through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Abubakar Marshall, equally demanded a public apology to be tendered to him in at least three National Dailies.
None of the respondents was in court and were not represented by nay lawyer.
Justice Mohammed Umar ordered the service of fresh notice on them and adjourned the matter till March 10 for hearing.
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