By Ibrahim Muhammad
A Jigawa State High Court has ordered the Attorney General, Jigawa State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to jointly pay ₦10 million in damages for the unlawful detention of Ya’u Sabo (also known as Ja’o), who was held in custody for ten years without trial.
The judgment, delivered on Tuesday by Justice Ado Yusif Birnin-Kudu, followed a Fundamental Rights Enforcement suit filed by the detainee. The court also ordered Mr. Sabo’s immediate and unconditional release.
Justice Birnin-Kudu described the prolonged detention as a grave violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights.
In his ruling, the judge held that the continued detention violated Mr. Sabo’s rights to personal liberty, fair hearing and freedom of movement as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The court consequently ordered the Attorney-General of Jigawa State, the Jigawa State Government and the Commissioner of Police to ensure Mr. Sabo’s immediate release.
The Court further directed the respondents to jointly pay ₦10 million as compensation for the hardship and suffering caused by the unlawful detention.
In addition, the court ordered a public apology to Mr. Sabo, to be aired on major radio stations across Jigawa State, acknowledging the violation of his fundamental rights.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the applicant, Barrister Baffa Al’asan, described the ruling as a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s role as the guardian of citizens’ rights.
He said the decision sends a strong message that indefinite detention without trial has no place in a democratic society, and urged the respondents to comply fully with the court’s orders to enable Mr. Sabo rebuild his life after years of wrongful incarceration.
Mr. Sabo was arrested in 2014 and arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Gumel on charges of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery. However, the case never proceeded to trial before a court with competent jurisdiction to hear such offences, yet he remained in custody for over a decade.
