Sowore’s Lawyer Demands Sanctions Against Lagos Police Chief For Defying Court Order

Human rights lawyer Tope Temokun has called for disciplinary action against Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, for allegedly defying a Federal High Court order restraining him from declaring activist Omoyele Sowore wanted.

In a statement on Tuesday, Temokun accused Jimoh of “executive lawlessness” and contempt of court after the police chief maintained that Sowore “remains wanted” despite the interim injunction. He described the commissioner’s conduct as “an invitation to anarchy” and “a direct assault on constitutional order.”

According to the lawyer, no police officer, including a commissioner, has the authority to declare any citizen wanted without a court’s authorization. He said the commissioner’s actions misrepresented the powers granted under Section 215 of the Constitution and mocked democratic governance.

“The Commissioner of Police, who should embody respect for the law, has instead dragged the image of the Nigeria Police Force into disrepute by repudiating a valid court order,” Temokun said.

He urged the Police Service Commission to sanction Jimoh immediately for undermining the judiciary, warning that allowing such impunity would send a dangerous message that court orders can be ignored.

The lawyer also called on the Lagos police chief to comply with the court ruling and desist from actions that threaten Sowore’s liberty or the judiciary’s authority.

The Federal High Court in Lagos had on November 5 granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police from arresting, harassing, or declaring Sowore wanted, pending the determination of a motion on notice filed before the court.