Jigawa court awards N10m and apology to man held over 10 years without trial
A Jigawa State High Court has ordered the release of Mr Ja’o Sabo, who was detained for more than a decade without trial. The court also directed authorities to pay him N10m in damages and issue a public apology. Justice Ado Yusif Birnin-Kudu ruled that the prolonged detention violated Sabo’s constitutional rights. The judgment was praised by Sabo’s counsel, Baffa Al’asan, as a strong statement on the protection of citizens’ rights.
What we know
- Mr Ja’o Sabo was arrested in 2014 over allegations of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery and remained in custody for over 10 years without trial.
- Justice Ado Yusif Birnin-Kudu ordered Sabo’s immediate release, describing his detention as a gross violation of constitutional rights.
- The court directed the Attorney-General of Jigawa State, the Jigawa State Government, and the Commissioner of Police to pay Sabo N10m as compensation.
- Authorities were also ordered to issue a public apology to Sabo, to be broadcast on major radio stations across Jigawa State.
- The ruling referenced both the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, highlighting multiple rights violations.
