Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and a prominent human rights activist, is currently embroiled in multiple legal battles, facing defamation charges from the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja and a declaration as "wanted" by the Lagos State Police Command. These intertwined legal challenges have brought him before the Federal High Courts in both cities, prompting significant judicial pronouncements.

The defamation case in Abuja, initiated by the DSS, charges Sowore, X Incorp (formerly Twitter), and Meta Corp (Facebook) with making false claims against President Bola Tinubu. The charge, FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, dated September 16, alleges that Sowore referred to President Tinubu as "a criminal" on his social media accounts. His arraignment, initially scheduled for September 30, was stalled after Sowore claimed he had not been served. The matter was later adjourned to October 27, but the court did not sit, leading to a new date of November 5.

During the November 5 session before Justice Mohammed Umar, Sowore was conspicuously absent, as was his legal representation. Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), the DSS lawyer, urged the court to issue a bench warrant for Sowore's arrest, arguing that his absence, coupled with a letter received from "one Deji Adeyanju" requesting an adjournment, were deliberate ploys to delay proceedings. Kehinde noted that all prior filings by Sowore had listed Femi Falana as his lead counsel, implying that Adeyanju’s letter was an attempt at impersonation and bad faith. He cited previous instances where Sowore’s arraignment had been stalled, including September 30, when Sowore was present but claimed improper service, and October 27, when the court did not sit, yet Sowore was absent without representation. Kehinde asserted that Sowore’s actions demonstrated a disrespect for the court, even as he appeared on television the previous day acknowledging the case.

Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo (SAN), representing Meta Corp, aligned with the DSS’s request for a bench warrant, noting that he also received Adeyanju’s letter, which he found disrespectful and confusing, as it referenced "November 4" instead of the scheduled "November 5." Tayo-Oyetibo added that Sowore had accused him on social media of "siding with the Federal Government." Conversely, Christabel Ndokwelu, counsel for X Incorp, argued that her client had not been properly served with the charge, only a hearing notice, and was therefore unprepared for arraignment. Justice Umar confirmed that the 2nd and 3rd defendants were served electronically, but Ndokwelu maintained that only the hearing notice had been received.

Despite the prosecution's insistence, Justice Mohammed Umar declined to immediately issue a bench warrant, stating there was "no need to rush." He ordered the prosecution to properly serve X Incorp with the charge sheet in open court and directed that Sowore be served with the hearing notice for the next adjourned date. The matter was then adjourned to December 2, 2025, for the arraignment of all defendants.

Concurrently, Sowore faced another legal challenge in Lagos, where Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh publicly declared him "wanted" on November 3, 2025. This declaration followed allegations that Sowore had visited Lagos to incite unrest over the demolition of buildings in the Oworonshoki community. Commissioner Jimoh defended his actions, citing his constitutional powers to declare individuals wanted and pledging to deploy all legal measures to arrest and prosecute Sowore, emphasizing the police’s role in preventing crimes and maintaining public safety.

The "wanted" declaration came after police used teargas against demonstrators protesting the demolition of buildings by the Lagos State Government. Several protesters were injured, and arrests were made. Commissioner Jimoh insisted that Sowore had failed to present himself for investigation and denied claims that the Inspector-General of Police issued a "shoot on sight" order, labeling such reports as misinformation.

In response, Sowore filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos. On Wednesday, Justice Musa Kakaki granted an interim injunction, restraining the Lagos police command and its commissioner from "harassing, intimidating, threatening with arrest, or declaring the applicant wanted" pending the determination of the substantive suit. Sowore’s affidavits argued that he had not received any formal police invitation or arrest warrant and that the declaration unlawfully impaired his constitutional rights to dignity, liberty, and free movement, while also damaging his reputation and attempting to stifle his activism.

Following the Lagos court ruling, Sowore expressed renewed faith in the Nigerian judiciary, despite public skepticism. He reiterated that his activism is fundamentally about justice and freedom for all Nigerians, transcending ethnic, gender, or religious divides, and publicly thanked the court for its courage in handling the matter expeditiously and granting the crucial protective order.