Nasarawa court awards N2m damages to man for unlawful detention

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - A High Court sitting in Uke, Nasarawa State, has awarded N2 million in damages to one Stephen Jonah over his unlawful and prolonged detention by the Nasarawa State Police Command.

The ruling followed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed on Mr. Jonah’s behalf by the Restorative Justice for Africa Initiative (REJA), a human rights organisation.

Jonah had been held at the Keffi Maximum Security Correctional Facility since 2022 without proper legal process.

The case, filed on December 5, 2023, under Suit No: NSD/MG610/2023, named the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General of Nasarawa State as respondents.

According to a statement by REJA, the organisation discovered Mr. Jonah during a routine visit to the Keffi Correctional Centre and immediately took steps to challenge his detention in court.

In Tuesday’s ruling, the court declared Mr. Jonah’s detention a violation of his constitutional rights and condemned the Nasarawa State Police Command for failing to comply with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of the state.

“The Court in its judgement held that the Nasarawa Police Command ‘failed to comply with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Nasarawa State’ and wrongfully violated the Applicant’s right to freedom and dignity as a Nigerian Citizen,” REJA quoted the judgment.

The court also ordered Mr. Jonah’s immediate and unconditional release from detention.

Reacting to the verdict, REJA described the judgment as a victory for human rights and justice. The group called on the Nasarawa State Attorney General and the Assistant Controller of Corrections to ensure full compliance with the court’s directive.

“We call upon the Attorney General of Nasarawa State and the Assistant Controller of Corrections, Nasarawa State, to comply with the court’s order and release Stephen Jonah immediately,” REJA said in a statement.

The organisation reiterated its commitment to supporting vulnerable and indigent inmates across Nigeria.

“Every week, volunteer lawyers and paralegals visit correctional facilities across Nigeria as a strong commitment to improving access to justice for indigent inmates who have been trapped in the justice system and forgotten by the ones who swore to protect their rights,” the group stated.

REJA also pointed out broader concerns about Nigeria’s criminal justice system, urging stakeholders to take action.

“The disturbing trend of law enforcement agents remanding and forgetting people behind bars for years, only to file unsubstantiated charges when a rights action is filed, must be strongly condemned and discouraged,” it added.