Court Orders Immediate Release of Zaria Cleric, Awards N5m Damages

By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Zaria
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria, awarding him N5 million in damages for violations of his fundamental human rights.
In a judgment delivered Monday, Justice Peter O. Lifu held that the cleric’s prolonged detention without a valid court order breached his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement, as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/55/2026, was filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Attorney-General of the Federation, Jaiz Bank Plc, and the State Security Service (SSS).
Justice Lifu directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, as Chief Law Officer, to ensure full compliance with the court’s orders, including the cleric’s immediate release.
The court also declared unlawful the restriction placed on the cleric’s Jaiz Bank account without a court order, describing it as a breach of his rights.
It awarded N1 million each against the EFCC and Jaiz Bank for the account restriction, and N4 million jointly against the DIA and SSS for what the court termed a gross violation of the applicant’s rights.
In addition, the DIA and SSS were ordered to publish a written apology to the cleric in line with Section 35(6) of the Constitution, while Jaiz Bank was directed to lift the restriction on the account forthwith.
At the hearing, counsel to the applicant was led by Sunusi Musa (SAN), alongside A.M. Mohammed, Bala Umar, and P.A. Adewuyi. O.O. Adeola appeared for the EFCC, while A.S. Gobir represented Jaiz Bank. The DIA and Attorney-General were absent and unrepresented, while Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) appeared for a party seeking joinder.
The case arose from the cleric’s detention since late 2025 after he travelled to Abuja over the freezing of his account linked to an alleged N2 million transaction tied to a coup plot investigation. Earlier proceedings in February and March saw authorities unable to produce a valid detention order, prompting concerns from his family over his whereabouts.