I Was Abducted From A Courtroom!” – Sowore Reveals Harrowing Arrest Under Democracy

Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has revealed that he is currently facing approximately nine ongoing court cases initiated by the Federal Government and the police.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

He made this disclosure during an appearance on Channels Television’s Inside Sources programme on Friday.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) stated that he has experienced more arrests under Nigeria’s democratic governments than he did under military rule.

Sowore recalled that he was only arrested twice during military regimes, far fewer than the number of detentions he has endured under civilian administrations.

He said, “I have suffered more arrests in 2025 than I did between 1989 and 1996, when I graduated from university. I was arrested by the DSS once, maybe twice, even though we opposed the military.

“When I was at the University of Lagos, I was abducted and detained for about two weeks. Later, during my NYSC in Yola, I was arrested and held for a week without a court order. Since civilian rule began, I have spent months in detention; I spent five months in DSS custody and was even abducted from a courtroom under democracy.”

In a related development, the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday ruled that the Nigerian Police acted unlawfully by designating Sowore a wanted person in 2025.

Justice Musa Kakaaki awarded ₦30 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, for unlawfully declaring Sowore wanted.

According to Sowore’s counsel, the court affirmed that no Nigerian can be criminalized for speaking out, protesting, or holding the government accountable.

The declaration of Sowore as wanted was made by Commissioner Jimoh on November 3, 2025, following allegations that the activist attempted to lead a protest on the Third Mainland Bridge over the demolition of poor settlements in Oworonshoki, Lagos. Earlier, in October 2025, the police commissioner had also directed Sowore to stay away from Lagos.

In response, Sowore filed a suit against the police, the IGP, and the commissioner, seeking enforcement of his constitutional rights to dignity, liberty, freedom of movement, expression, and peaceful assembly as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

In his affidavit, Sowore stated that the police had declared him wanted without prior invitation, warrant, or formal charge, damaging his reputation and violating his constitutional rights. He maintained that he would have complied with any lawful summons.

Through his legal team, led by Tope Temokun, Sowore requested the court to restrain the police from harassing, intimidating, or arresting him, and to nullify the declaration. He also sought ₦500 million in general and exemplary damages.

The police, however, opposed the suit, insisting that Commissioner Jimoh had the authority to declare Sowore wanted.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on November 5, 2025, Jimoh stated that the declaration remained in force and accused Sowore of failing to report to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yaba as agreed by his lawyer.

He also denied claims that the IGP had ordered Sowore to be “shot on sight,” calling such allegations misinformation.

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