Nigeria, Feb. 20 -- The Federal High Court in Lagos declared on Friday that the Nigerian police's designation of human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore as a wanted person in Lagos last year was illegal and violated the Nigerian constitution.

The judge, Musa Kakaaki awarded N30 million in damages against the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and Lagos State Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh for unlawfully pronouncing Mr Sowore a wanted person.

Mr Kakaaki, according to the details of the judgement shared by Mr Sowore's lawyer, held that no Nigerian can be criminalised for speaking, protesting, or holding the government accountable.

Mr Jimoh, the Lagos police commissioner, p...