The Federal High Court in Jalingo has discharged and acquitted thirteen inmates who had been detained without trial for periods ranging from one to six years in Taraba State.
In a landmark judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Maskur Salisu ordered the immediate release of the detainees and awarded a total of ₦48 million in damages for the violation of their fundamental rights.
The inmates regained their freedom through the pro bono legal intervention of human rights lawyer Barrister John Nkemnagum Okezie, who filed separate fundamental rights enforcement suits against the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
“The prolonged detention of citizens without trial is not only unconstitutional but an affront to human dignity,” Justice Salisu declared in his ruling, describing the security agencies’ actions as “reprehensible and unlawful.”
Barrister Okezie told journalists that his motivation was to decongest overcrowded prisons and ensure access to justice for all, regardless of financial means.
“This was a pro bono effort aimed at ensuring that justice is not reserved for only those who can afford it,” Okezie stated, while urging the freed inmates to make good use of their second chance.
The judgment has been hailed by human rights advocates as a major victory for civil liberties and a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s role in safeguarding citizens’ freedoms.
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