Justice Peter Lifu has ordered the immediate release of Sani Abdulladir Zaria from DIA custody, awarding N6 million in total damages for constitutional breaches
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the immediate and unconditional release of the prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Sani Abdulladir Zaria from the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency and the Department of State Services.
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The 75-year-old cleric had been detained for over four months following his arrest in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
In a scathing judgment, the court imposed a fine of N2 million each on the Defence Intelligence Agency and the Department of State Services.
Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the agencies breached Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by holding Sani Abdulladir Zaria without trial since December 2025.
The court further directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Jaiz Bank to pay N1 million each in compensation to the plaintiff.
This penalty was issued after the institutions were found to have frozen the bank account of Sani Abdulladir Zaria without a valid court order.
Justice Peter Lifu lambasted the Defence Intelligence Agency for its failure to subordinate itself to civil rule.
The judge noted that the agency had previously refused to produce the detained man in court despite direct orders to do so.
The scholar was initially taken into custody after the discovery of N2 million in his bank account, which had been transferred by an individual indicted in the alleged coup plot.
While the cleric claimed the sender was merely one of his disciples and offered to forfeit the sum to secure his freedom, the security agencies maintained his detention to investigate potential complicity.
In addition to the financial penalties, the court ordered the security agencies to tender a public apology to Sani Abdulladir Zaria for the violation of his fundamental rights.
Justice Peter Lifu emphasised that Nigeria, as a signatory to international human rights conventions, must not permit such instances of victimisation.
The Attorney General of the Federation has been directed to ensure immediate compliance with the court’s decision.
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The legal team representing the cleric, led by Sunusi Musa SAN, Abdul Aliyu SAN, and Mohammed Sheriff, welcomed the verdict as a monumental triumph for the rule of law.
