A State High Court sitting in Birnin – Kudu, Jigawa State has ordered state government, the Attorney – General(AG) and Commissioner for Justice in the state and Commissioner of Police, Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Police Force(NPF) to jpintly pay N10m compensation to Mr Ja’o Sabo for prolonged unlawful detention without trial.
The court presided by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu also ordered the Jigawa state government, its AG and the Commissioner of Police to tender unreserved public apology to Sabo and to immediately release him from further detention.
Sabo was arrested in 2014 following allegations of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, but remained in detention for over 10 years without putting him to trial.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed on his counsel; Baffa Al’asan, in Birnin Kudu, Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu held that Sabo’s prolonged detention amounted to a gross violation of his constitutional rights.
“The Respondents are ordered to discharge the Applicant, Mr Ja’o Sabo alias Ya’u, from detention forthwith,” the judge declared.
In addition, the court directed the respondents to tender a public apology to Sabo, to be aired on major radio stations across Jigawa State.
The judge said, “The prolonged detention of Mr Sabo without trial is a flagrant violation of his fundamental rights as enshrined in Sections 35, 36, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
Citing Articles 4, 6, 7 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, the judge emphasised that Sabo’s rights to personal liberty, fair trial and freedom of movement were breached.
Reacting, Sabo’s counsel, Baffa Al’asan, described the ruling as a validation of the judiciary’s role in safeguarding citizens’ fundamental rights and upholding constitutional provisions.
