Alleged Coup Plot: Court orders release of Zaria cleric
…..awards N5 million in damages
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the unconditional release of Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria and awarded him N5 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental human rights by security agencies and a commercial bank.
The judgment was delivered on Monday by Justice Peter O. Lifu.
The court held that the prolonged detention of the cleric without a valid court order breached his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
A certified true copy of the judgement sighted by Peoples Daily on the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/55/2026, Justice Lifu directed the the Attorney-General of the Federation, as the Chief Law Officer, to ensure full compliance with the court’s orders.
The fundamental rights suit was filed by Sheikh Sani Zaria through his lawyer, Sani Musa SAN, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Attorney-General of the Federation, Jaiz Bank Plc, and the State Security Service (SSS).
The court specifically ordered the unconditional and immediate release of the applicant and declared the restriction placed on the cleric’s Jaiz Bank account without a court order as unlawful and a breach of his fundamental rights.
The judge awarded N1 million each against the EFCC and Jaiz Bank Plc for the unlawful restriction on the account.
He further awarded N4 million jointly and severally against the DIA and SSS for the gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental human rights.
Additionally, the DIA and SSS were ordered by the court to publish a written apology to the applicant in accordance with Section 35(6) of the Constitution.
The judge also ordered Jaiz Bank to lift the restriction placed on the cleric’s bank account with immediate effect.
The case stemmed from the cleric’s detention since late 2025 after he travelled to Abuja to resolve issues relating to the freezing of his bank account over an alleged N2 million transaction linked to investigations involving a coup plot suspect.
His family had raised concerns over his whereabouts, and earlier court hearings in February and March 2026, had seen the government trying to produce a valid detention order.
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