Adamawa police ordered to pay N5m for unlawful detention

The Adamawa State High Court in Yola has ordered the state’s Police Command to pay N5 million in damages to Hammandu Musa for his unlawful detention at the Jimeta Correctional Centre for five years without trial.

Musa was arrested in 2019 by a vigilante group in Song Local Government Area over alleged involvement in kidnapping and handed over to the police. However, he remained detained for five years without being arraigned before a competent court.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Benjamin Manji Lawan declared Musa’s prolonged detention a violation of his constitutional rights to fair hearing and personal liberty as provided under Sections 35(1) and 36(4) & (5) of the 1999 Constitution. The judge described the police’s actions as an egregious breach of fundamental rights and ordered Musa’s immediate release alongside the compensation.

Reacting to the ruling, the Adamawa State Police Command announced its intention to appeal the judgment. In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Yahya Nguroje, the police claimed Musa’s case was investigated, and a prima facie case was established before the matter was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

“The Command assures the public that it will, in collaboration with the Adamawa State Ministry of Justice, appeal the High Court’s decision for a review,” the statement added.

The case has reignited debates about unlawful detention and the need for improved adherence to constitutional provisions on human rights by law enforcement agencies.