Jigawa Court Orders N10m Compensation, Apology For Man Detained 10 Years Without Trial

A Jigawa State High Court has ordered the immediate release of Mr Ja’o Sabo, who was detained for more than a decade without trial, awarding him N10 million in damages and directing the authorities to issue a public apology.

Sabo was arrested in 2014 over allegations of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, but remained in custody for over 10 years without his case proceeding to trial.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday in a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the High Court sitting in Birnin Kudu, Justice Ado Yusif Birnin-Kudu ruled 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.

Justice Birnin-Kudu also ordered the Attorney-General of Jigawa State, the Jigawa State Government and the Commissioner of Police to jointly pay Sabo N10 million as compensation for the unlawful detention.

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).”

He also cited Articles 4, 6, 7 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, emphasising that Sabo’s rights to personal liberty, fair trial and freedom of movement were breached.

Reacting to the judgment, Sabo’s counsel, Baffa Al’asan, described the ruling as a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s role in safeguarding citizens’ fundamental rights and upholding constitutional provisions.