Counsel to human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, of “executive lawlessness” and “open defiance of the rule of law.”
Sowore’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, in a statement on Tuesday, condemned the Commissioner’s insistence that Sowore “remains wanted,” despite a valid court order restraining such action. Temokun described the statement as “a reckless display of contempt of court” and “a descent into anarchy.”
“Once again, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police has chosen to walk the path of anarchy and open defiance of the rule of law,” Temokun said. “His declaration that Sowore ‘remains wanted’ despite a subsisting Federal High Court order is a direct act of contempt and a mockery of judicial authority.”
He accused Jimoh of bringing the Nigeria Police Force into “shameful disrepute” and “openly challenging constitutional order.”
Citing constitutional provisions, the lawyer argued that the police have no unilateral power to declare any citizen wanted without judicial approval. “Section 215 of the Constitution does not grant arbitrary powers; it binds the police to act within the rule of law,” he said.
Temokun urged the Police Service Commission to intervene, warning that allowing such impunity to stand would undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
“A serving Commissioner of Police cannot mock a court order and remain in office without consequence,” he stated, demanding that CP Jimoh “purge himself of contempt” and stop any further actions against Sowore.
He added, “Nigeria cannot claim to be under democracy if law enforcement officers continue to disregard the authority of the courts.”
