No Police Officer Can Declare Citizens Wanted — Olajengbesi Lectures Lagos CP
Nigerian human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has faulted the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, for declaring human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore “wanted” over a protest against the illegal demolition of houses in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos.
Olajengbesi, in a statement issued on Monday, said no police officer — no matter how highly placed, including the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) or any State Commissioner of Police — has the unilateral power to declare a citizen wanted without first obtaining a court order.
He stressed that such actions amount to an abuse of power and a violation of constitutional rights, noting that the police must approach a competent court to obtain an order before declaring any individual wanted.
”I believe that Senior Police Officers should be given refresher courses on law enforcement, having watched the video and public statement by the Commissioner of Police in Lagos declaring Omoyele Sowore “wanted.”
”No Police officer, no matter how highly placed, including the Inspector-General of Police or any State Commissioner of Police, has the unilateral power to declare a citizen “wanted.”
”You would have to approach the court appropriately,” Olajengbesi said.
The lawyer added that the Nigerian Constitution provides clear guidelines on arrest, investigation, and prosecution, emphasising that no citizen should be subjected to arbitrary declarations without due process.
Osun Defender reported that the Lagos CP, declared Sowore wanted for ‘disturbance of public peace’, following a protest in Lagos condemning the demolition of homes in Oworonshoki by the state government.
Hafsoh Isiaq is a graduate of Linguistics. An avid writer committed to creative, high-quality research and news reportage. She has considerable experience in writing and reporting across a variety of platforms including print and online.
