A Jigawa State High Court has ordered the release of Mr Ja’o Sabo, who spent more than 10 years in detention without being tried, awarding him N10 million in compensation and mandating a public apology from the authorities.
Sabo was arrested in 2014 on allegations of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery but remained in custody for over a decade without his case being brought before a court.
In a judgment delivered on Tuesday at the High Court in Birnin Kudu, Justice Ado Yusif Birnin-Kudu held that the prolonged detention constituted a grave breach of Sabo’s fundamental rights.
“The respondents are hereby ordered to discharge the applicant, Mr Ja’o Sabo, also known as Ya’u, from detention with immediate effect,” the judge ruled.
The court further directed the Attorney-General of Jigawa State, the state government, and the Commissioner of Police to jointly pay N10 million as damages for the unlawful detention.
Justice Birnin-Kudu also ordered that a public apology be issued to Sabo and broadcast on major radio stations across Jigawa State.
According to the court, Sabo’s continued incarceration without trial violated provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), particularly Sections 35, 36, 41, and 46, which guarantee personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement.
The judge also cited relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, noting that Nigeria is bound by its obligations under the charter.
Reacting to the judgment, Sabo’s lawyer, Baffa Al’asan, described the ruling as a strong reminder of the judiciary’s duty to protect citizens from abuse of power and to uphold constitutional rights.
