According to information made available to SaharaReporters, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) involved in the matter raised serious concerns over alleged behind-the-scenes moves by the police commissioner after the trial judge, Justice Musa Kakaki, reserved judgment in the case.
Fresh allegations have emerged accusing the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, of attempting to improperly influence a pending court decision in a suit filed by human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, SaharaReporters has learnt.
Sowore had approached the court to challenge the action of the Lagos State Police Command, which declared him “wanted” following a dispute over his attempt to take possession of a property in Lagos.
According to information made available to SaharaReporters, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) involved in the matter raised serious concerns over alleged behind-the-scenes moves by the police commissioner after the trial judge, Justice Musa Kakaki, reserved judgment in the case.
The SAN alleged that CP Jimoh, apparently unsettled by the possibility of an unfavourable outcome, reached out to Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, seeking political intervention in the matter.
Sources familiar with the development said the police commissioner was said to have expressed fears that a judgment against him could embolden Sowore and his supporters, potentially leading to widespread protests in Lagos.
The SAN further alleged that the CP warned that such protests could escalate into major disruptions, including the blocking of key infrastructure in the state.
SaharaReporters was told that following the alleged moves, efforts were initiated to influence the judicial process in favour of the police commissioner.
According to the SAN, news of the alleged attempts has caused unease within the court, with discomfort reportedly extending to members of the judge’s staff.
The allegations have sparked concerns among legal observers and civil rights advocates, who warn that any attempt by security officials to interfere with the judiciary poses a serious threat to the rule of law and judicial independence.
Sowore, a long-time critic of government and security agencies, has repeatedly accused the police of abusing their powers to intimidate and harass dissenting voices.
Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, last Tuesday reserved judgment in the fundamental rights violation suit brought by Sowore, against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Jimoh Moshood, for unlawfully declaring him wanted.
Sowore had filed the fundamental human rights violation suit at the court following a public announcement made by the Lagos Commissioner of Police on November 3, 2025, in which he declared Sowore “wanted” for participating in a protest against demolition in Oworonshoki community in Lagos.
The CP's allegations were not backed by a formal charge, arrest warrant, or ongoing criminal investigation made available to the public.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has long been a vocal critic of government abuses and a frequent target of law enforcement actions.
Sowore argued that the CP’s public declaration amounted to a violation of his constitutional rights to personal liberty, dignity, and freedom of movement, prompting him to institute the fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court.
Proceedings in the fundamental rights enforcement suit were earlier stalled on Friday, December 5, 2025, following the submission of a fresh counter-affidavit by the police.
Following the development, the court had adjourned the matter to December 9, 2025 for hearing.
When the case came up in court on Tuesday, Sowore's lawyer, Tope Temokun maintained that the court should dismiss the unlawful “wanted” declaration, insisting that Sowore committed no known crime.
According to Temokun, the Commissioner’s action has not only put Sowore at security risk but has presented him in the public eyes as a person he is not.
However, counsel to the Commissioner of Police, Barrister Anthony Iyeye, asked the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merit.
According to the Iyeye, the police commissioner declared Sowore wanted because “his actions caused a breach of flow of traffic at the Owonshonki area of Lagos” when he participated in a protest against the demolition in Oworonshoki community.
Iyeye claimed that intelligence gathered by the police against Sowore formed the Commissioner’s declaration of the activist wanted.
But Temokun in his counter response told the court that the alleged intelligence by the police came after Sowore had filed the suit in court.
He added that the said intelligence mentioned no crime against Sowore, nor did it mention any victim or witness of any crime committed by Sowore.
After listening to the argument of the parties, Justice Kakaki reserved judgment in the case to be delivered on a date to be communicated later.