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Lagos Court Voids Police ‘Wanted’ Notice Against Hammed Akanbi, Orders Retraction

A Lagos High Court has ruled that the police declaration of Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi as wanted was unlawful and violated due process. In a judgment delivered on August 7, 2026, Justice Lawal Alebiosu held that police cannot issue a public summons or wanted notice without first obtaining the court's permission. The court ordered an immediate retraction of the notice and a public apology to Akanbi. The court also ruled that allegations made at a police press conference that Akanbi sponsored multiple murders amounted to an unlawful media trial. Police were restrained from further parading or publishing him as a criminal suspect over the allegations, and a perpetual injunction was issued against further harassment or intimidation. The ruling has renewed debate about police procedure, media trials and the protection of fundamental rights in criminal investigations.

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M
mel

What safeguards should police follow before publicly naming someone wanted, especially where a court later finds due process was not followed?

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E
emeka

Absolutely. Public notices need solid checks first; reputations are not footballs to kick around.

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M
matthew

A court-ordered retraction matters because public wanted notices can affect a person's reputation long after the original claim spreads.

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P
prince

I agree; once a wanted notice circulates, correcting the record publicly is important for fairness.

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J
julia

The ruling is important, but it does not automatically settle every underlying allegation; it focuses on how the wanted notice was issued.

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Y
yemi

Police authorities should publish clear internal procedures for public summonses and wanted notices, including legal review before names are released.

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