The Federal High Court sitting in Bauchi has delivered a significant verdict against the Bauchi State Government, ordering it to pay N100 million in general and exemplary damages to the former Accountant General of the state, Dr. Saidu Abubakar.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Aminu Garba in suit number FHC/BAU/CS/43/2024, followed a fundamental rights enforcement application filed by Dr. Abubakar.
He alleged illegal arrest, harassment, intimidation, and detention by security agents said to be acting on instructions from the state government.
In addition to the financial compensation, the court directed that a public apology be published in two national newspapers and that formal notification of the apology be sent to Dr. Abubakar within 14 days of the July 1, 2025 judgment.
Justice Garba found that the actions of the respondents, including the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi, the Bauchi State Government, the State Security Service (SSS), the Attorney General of the State, and the State Public Complaint Commission, breached Dr. Abubakar’s rights as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“Threat, intimidation, unlawful arrest and detention of the applicant by agents of the respondents with respect to his official duties and functions as Accountant General of Bauchi State is unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, null and void, and a breach of the applicant’s fundamental Rights pursuant to sections 34(1), 35, 36, 41(1) and 46(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); Articles 4, 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Laws of Federation (LFN 2004).” the court held.
Justice Garba stressed that the agencies involved had no lawful authority to direct operatives to harass or detain the applicant without following the appropriate legal processes.
The court also ruled that Dr. Abubakar’s detention from September 9 to September 25, 2024, violated his constitutional rights to liberty, dignity, and freedom of movement. In the words of the judgment:
“The continuous detention of the applicant by the agents of the respondents without trial is illegal, null and void and a flagrant violation of his fundamental right pursuant to Section 35(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
A perpetual injunction was also granted, restraining all respondents and their agents from further arresting, harassing, or detaining Dr. Abubakar in relation to his former role as Accountant General.
However, the court struck out the case against the State Security Service, the fourth respondent, citing insufficient evidence.
“An order is hereby made striking out the name of the 4th respondent as there is no any case established against them,” the court stated.
As at the time of this report, the Bauchi State Government has yet to respond to the court’s ruling.
