A Jigawa State High Court has ordered the immediate release of Mr. Ja’o Sabo (also known as Ya’u), who spent more than a decade in custody without trial, and awarded him ₦10 million in damages. Justice Ado Yusif Birnin-Kudu, delivering judgment in a fundamental-rights enforcement suit, held that Sabo’s prolonged detention amounted to a gross violation of his constitutional rights and directed the respondents to tender a public apology to be broadcast on major radio stations in the state.
According to court papers, Sabo was arrested in 2014 and initially brought before a magistrate’s court in Gumel on allegations of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery. The matter, however, never proceeded to trial before a court with jurisdiction for such offences, and he remained in custody for over ten years before filing the enforcement action. The High Court ordered the Jigawa State Government, the Attorney-General and the Commissioner of Police to jointly pay ₦10 million in compensation for the unlawful detention.
Sabo’s lawyer described the judgment as a vindication of the rule of law and a reminder that indefinite detention without trial cannot stand in a democracy. The judge referenced relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution and provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in finding that Sabo’s fundamental rights — including personal liberty and right to fair hearing — were breached. Commentators say the case adds to wider calls for police reform and measures to decongest correctional centres nationwide.
What this means for readers: the judgement is an explicit reminder that constitutional safeguards apply to every accused person, and it places a legal obligation on state institutions to remedy wrongful detention quickly. Observers and rights groups will likely watch to see whether authorities comply promptly with the release, compensation and public-apology orders.
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