A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a landmark judgment ordering the release of Bashir Hadejia, a politician and businessman, while branding his arrest and detention by the police as both unlawful and unconstitutional. In a scathing decision, the court also imposed a fine of ₦10 million on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for violating Hadejia’s fundamental human rights.
Delivering the judgment on the 14th of January, 2025, Justice Emeka Nwite condemned the police’s actions, which included raiding Hadejia’s home without a warrant and detaining him without cause.
The judge described the conduct as a flagrant violation of the law.
“The invasion of the applicant’s home, his arrest without a warrant, and subsequent detention are unlawful and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights,” Nwite declared.
The court further cemented its position by issuing a perpetual injunction restraining the IGP, his agents, and servants from unlawfully arresting or detaining Hadejia in the future.
Hadejia, a former special adviser to Bello Matawalle, the ex-governor of Zamfara State, had been apprehended in August 2024 by the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) on allegations of treason and subversion against the state.
However, Hadejia dismissed these accusations as politically motivated.
Through his counsel, Mahmud Magaji, Hadejia initiated a suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1235/2024) against the IGP, Matawalle, the Department of State Services (DSS), and others, seeking nine reliefs.
These included a declaration that his arrest was illegal and a demand for ₦500 million in damages. In an affidavit, Hadejia’s younger brother, Abubakar, detailed how the arrest was allegedly orchestrated as a political vendetta following a fallout between Hadejia and Matawalle after the latter’s failed reelection bid in 2023.
He also alleged that the police raided Hadejia’s home without a search warrant and failed to record an inventory of items seized.
Although Matawalle and other respondents denied any involvement, the court found no evidence linking them directly to Hadejia’s arrest. Justice Nwite, however, highlighted a glaring omission by the IGP, who failed to challenge the evidence presented against him.
“It is worthy of note that the 1st respondent did not file any process despite being served with the hearing notices and all court documents. Unchallenged evidence in court is deemed true,” the judge stated, delivering a judgment that reinforces the sanctity of fundamental human rights in the face of state power.