On Wednesday, April 9, a High Court in Uke, Nasarawa State, ruled that the Nasarawa State Police must pay N2 million in damages to Stephen Jonah for unlawfully detaining him for over two years.
The court’s decision followed a case filed by the Restorative Justice for Africa Initiative (REJA), a human rights group, on Mr. Jonah’s behalf.
Jonah had been held at the Keffi Maximum Security Correctional Facility since 2022 without going through the proper legal process. The case was filed in court on December 5, 2023, under Suit No: NSD/MG610/2023, with the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General named as respondents.
REJA, during a routine visit to the Keffi Correctional Centre, found Mr. Jonah and immediately began legal action to challenge his detention. On Tuesday, the court ruled that Jonah’s detention violated his constitutional rights and criticized the Nasarawa State Police Command for not following the law.
The court’s judgment stated that the Nasarawa Police failed to follow the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of the state and unlawfully violated Jonah’s right to freedom. It also ordered that Jonah be released immediately and unconditionally.
Following the ruling, REJA celebrated the judgment as a win for human rights and justice. The group called on the Nasarawa State Attorney General and the Assistant Controller of Corrections to make sure the court’s order was followed and that Jonah was released right away.
“We urge the Attorney General of Nasarawa State and the Assistant Controller of Corrections to comply with the court’s order and release Stephen Jonah immediately,” REJA said in a statement.
The organization also pledged to continue supporting vulnerable inmates across Nigeria, saying, “Every week, volunteer lawyers and paralegals visit correctional facilities to help indigent inmates who are often forgotten in the justice system.”
REJA also highlighted concerns about Nigeria’s criminal justice system and called for stronger actions against the ongoing issue of unlawful detentions. They urged stakeholders to take steps to end the troubling trend of people being held in detention without proper charges or trials.
