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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has fixed March 10 to commence hearing in a N1.2 billion civil rights suit against the Inspector General (IG) of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and two others.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the hearing date following an oral application by counsel to Omoyele Sowore, Marshall Abubakar.
However, the two other respondents — the Nigeria Police Force and the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) — were not represented in court, despite their being served with the suit as well as the hearing notice.
The absence of all the defendants prompted Justice Umar to adjourn the matter to March 10, but with a warning that it would be for definite hearing on that date.
The judge ordered that hearing notices must be served on the defendants so as not to give room for any further adjournment.
Sowore, publisher of Sahara news media, had last year slammed a fundamental human rights suit against the defendants over his October 23, 2025 arrest and detention for his participation in a protest against the arrest and prosecution of Biafra nation agitator, Nnamdi Kanu.
In the suit, Sowore claimed his arrest and detention over a peaceful protest constituted a blatant breach of his right to freedom of movement and dignity of the human person.
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He also claimed that his arraignment on October 24, 2025 was illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.
He predicated his suit on Sections 35, 34, 37, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution to establish the alleged breach of his fundamental rights.
Among others, Sowore asked the court to declare his arrest and detention as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional on the grounds that he did not violate any order of court or run foul of any known law regarding lawful protest.
He prayed the court to order the 1st to 3rd defendants to pay him N200 million as general damages for the illegal violations of his rights.
Sowore applied for another order compelling the 1st to 3rd defendants to pay him another N1 billion as punitive and exemplary damages for his illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional arrest, detention and arraignment.
In addition, the activist sought an order compelling the IGP, the Nigeria Police Force and the FCT Commissioner of Police to tender a public apology in at least three national newspapers for violating his rights.
Besides, the activist asked the court to direct the Attorney General of the Federation to initiate disciplinary actions against the IG and the FCT Police Commissioner under the Anti-Torture Act 2017 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
