By Micah Jonah
January 28, 2026
A Jigawa State High Court has ordered the immediate release of Mr Jao Sabo, who was detained for over ten years without trial, awarded him N10 million in damages while directing the authorities to issue a public apology.
Sabo was arrested in 2014 over allegations of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery but remained in custody for more than a decade without his case being brought to trial.
Delivering judgment at the High Court sitting in Birnin Kudu on Tuesday, Justice Ado Yusif Birnin Kudu ruled that the prolonged detention amounted to a gross violation of Sabo’s constitutional rights.
The judge ordered the respondents to discharge the applicant, Mr Jao Sabo also known as Yau, from detention with immediate effect.
Justice Birnin Kudu further directed the Attorney General of Jigawa State, the Jigawa State Government and the Commissioner of Police to jointly pay N10 million as compensation for the unlawful detention.
In addition, the court ordered that a public apology be tendered to Sabo and aired on major radio stations across Jigawa State.
The court held that the prolonged detention without trial violated Sections 35, 36, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, as well as provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights relating to personal liberty, fair trial and freedom of movement.
Reacting to the judgment, Sabo’s counsel, Baffa Alasan, described the ruling as a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s duty to protect citizens’ fundamental rights, uphold constitutional provisions.
