The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an order directing the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, to pay Naziru Isah Abdullahi, the sum of N100 million for the unlawful arrest, detention and killing of “Free El Zakzaky” protester, Ja’afar Muhammad.
Ja’afar was taken to the Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital for treatment in 2019 after he was injured during a protest in Abuja, but while at the hospital, Police stormed the hospital and took him to the then Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Cell, Abattoir, Garki in Abuja.
While in police custody, Ja’afar was reportedly not given any medical treatment, and that led to his death on July 24, 2019.
Following his death, Ja’afar’s brother, Naziru Isah Abdullahi, filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CD/409/2020 at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the Nigeria Police.
Delivering judgment on the case, Justice Z. B. Abubakar, ruled that Ja’afar’s arrest by the Police at Gwagwalada Teaching Hospital on July 22, 2019, and his subsequent killing on July 24, 2019, at SARS Abattoir in Abuja were illegal and constituted a gross violation of the deceased’s fundamental rights as enshrined in Section 33 (1) 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Justice Abubakar further held that the applicant, Abdullahi, had provided evidence that his brother, Ja’afar was shot by the police and sustained injuries while participating in a peaceful free Zakzaky protest at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, on July 22, 2019.
The judge also stated that it was established that, upon the demise of Ja’afar, his corpse was deposited at the Asokoro District Hospital mortuary in Abuja.
Justice Abubakar therefore granted an order directing the Inspector General of Police and the Medical Director of Asokoto District Hospital to release Ja’afar’s corpse to his family for immediate burial in accordance with Islamic rites and also pay the applicant the sum of N100 million.