The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Benjamin Hundeyin, has announced that the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Life Camp, Abuja, granted an interim injunction restraining Omoyele Sowore and Sahara Reporters from further publishing content alleged to be defamatory against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
According to Hundeyin, the order was issued by Justice J.O.E. Adeyemi-Ajayi and temporarily restrains Sowore and his media platform from making further publications deemed defamatory pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.
Reacting to the development, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore accused the police authorities of failing to comply with prior judgments delivered by the Federal High Court.
He stated that Justice Musa Kakaki had ordered the payment of ₦30 million in damages to him over what he described as the illegal and unlawful declaration of him as “WANTED.”
Sowore claimed the judgment remains unenforced.
He further alleged that this marked the third time Nigerian courts had awarded damages against the Federal Government in his favour without compliance.
Sowore referenced an earlier ruling by Justice Anwuli Chikere, who awarded damages against the Department of State Services (DSS) following the seizure of his phones during his 2019 arrest linked to the #RevolutionNow protests. According to him, the devices have not been returned and the damages remain unpaid.
In another case, he said Justice Inyang Ekwo (often referred to as Justice Egwuatu in some reports) also awarded damages against security authorities.
Sowore vowed to take lawful steps to enforce the outstanding judgment debts. He stated that any recovered funds would be redirected to support residents of Oworonshoki whose homes were demolished, retired police officers, unpaid teachers, and other vulnerable persons.
The latest injunction adds to the ongoing legal tensions between Sowore and Nigeria’s law enforcement authorities, with further court proceedings expected as the substantive matter comes up for hearing.
