Nassarawa Court Orders Police Commissioner to Pay N2m in Damages for Unlawful Detention
A High Court sitting in Uke, Nassarawa State, has ordered the Commissioner of Police, Nassarawa State, to pay 2 million Naira in damages for the unlawful and continuous detention of Mr. Stephen Jonah.
The judgment follows a fundamental rights enforcement case filed by the Rights Enforcement and Justice Agency (REJA) on behalf of Mr. Jonah, who had been languishing in the Keffi Maximum Security Correctional Facility since 2022.
The REJA team discovered Mr. Jonah’s plight during a routine visit to the Keffi Correctional Centre and promptly took legal action.
The case, between Stephen Jonah and the Commissioner of Police, Nassarawa State, along with the Attorney General of Nassarawa State, with Suit No: NSD/MG610/2023, was brought before the court on December 5, 2023.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, the High Court condemned the actions of the Nassarawa Police Command.
“The Court in its judgement held that the Nassarawa Police Command ‘failed to comply with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Nassarawa State’ and wrongfully violated the Applicant’s right to freedom and dignity as a Nigerian Citizen,” the press release from REJA stated, directly quoting the court’s findings.
Furthermore, the court issued a clear directive for Mr. Jonah’s immediate release.
“The Court further ordered the unconditional release of Mr. Stephen Jonah from the Keffi Correctional Centre,” the REJA statement further confirmed.
Reacting to the judgment, REJA hailed the court’s decision as a crucial win for justice and fundamental human rights.
The organization called upon relevant authorities to swiftly adhere to the court’s order.
“We call upon the Attorney General of Nassarawa State and the Assistant Controller of Corrections, Nassarawa State, to comply with the court’s order and release Stephen Jonah immediately,” REJA urged.
REJA underscored its commitment to providing legal assistance to vulnerable inmates trapped within the justice system.
“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. We reiterate our commitment to people who have been abandoned behind bars simply for being poor and having no one to speak for them,” the organisation affirmed.
The human rights agency also used the victory to highlight a disturbing trend within the criminal justice system.
“We urge all stakeholders in the criminal justice system to play their part in ensuring the human rights of persons are respected and the criminal laws of the country are followed strictly. The disturbing trend of law enforcement agents remanding and forgetting people behind bars for years only to file unsubstantiated charges when a fundamental rights action is instituted must be strongly condemned and discouraged,” REJA asserted, emphasising the need for systemic reform and accountability within law enforcement.
