The Federal High Court in Bauchi has ordered the Bauchi State Government to pay N100 million in damages and issue a public apology to the state’s former Accountant General, Dr. Saidu Abubakar, for the violation of his fundamental human rights.
Justice Aminu Garba, who presided over the case (Suit No. FHC/BAU/CS/43/2024), delivered the judgment on July 1, 2025, following a suit filed by Dr. Abubakar over alleged unlawful arrest, intimidation, harassment, and detention in connection with his official duties.
The court ruled that the actions of the respondents—including the Inspector General of Police, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, the Bauchi State Government, the Attorney General of Bauchi State, the Bauchi Public Complaint Commission, and others—were unconstitutional and violated the applicant’s rights under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“The threat, intimidation, unlawful arrest, and detention of the applicant in the course of discharging his statutory functions as Accountant General are unconstitutional, illegal, and a violation of his rights,” the judge declared.
Justice Garba specifically condemned the detention of Dr. Abubakar from September 9 to 25, 2024, stating it breached his rights to personal liberty, dignity, and freedom of movement as guaranteed by Sections 34, 35, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further harassment, intimidation, arrest, or detention of Dr. Abubakar in relation to his official duties.
As part of the judgment, the court awarded N100 million in general and exemplary damages, to be paid jointly and severally by the respondents. It also directed the publication of a public apology to Dr. Abubakar in two national newspapers within 14 days of the judgment.
Furthermore, the court struck out the name of the State Security Service (SSS) from the suit due to lack of evidence linking the agency to the alleged violations.
“An order is hereby made striking out the name of the 4th respondent, the State Security Service, as no case was established against them,” the ruling stated.
Efforts to obtain official responses from the Bauchi State Government were unsuccessful as calls and messages to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hassan Usman El-Yakub (SAN), and the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Usman Shehu Usman, went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
