Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate, unconditional release of a prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Sani Abdulladir Zaria, from the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, and the Department of the State Services, DSS.
The cleric was detained following his arrest in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu
The judge, in a judgment on Monday, imposed a fine of N2 million each on DIA and DSS, to be paid to the cleric, for breaching sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the way and manner the 75-year-old man was hauled into detention for more than two months without trial.
Delivering judgment in a fundamental rights suit instituted against DIA and others by the detained Islamic cleric,
Justice Lifu ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Jaiz Bank to pay N1 million each as compensation to the plaintiff for freezing his bank account without order of any law court.
Besides, the Federal High Court directed the DIA and DSS to tender public apology to the detained islamic scholar for the breach of his fundamental rights.
Sheikh Sani Abdulladir Zaria was hauled into detention without order of court for allegedly associating with one of those involved in the alleged coup plot against President Tinubu.
Credit: dailypost.ng
