A Nasarawa-based legal practitioner, Isah Hassan-Nalaraba, has filed a N360 million fundamental human rights violation lawsuit against Justice Abdullahi Hassan-Shama, a judge of the Nasarawa State High Court, over alleged illegal detention and forceful confiscation of his mobile phones during a court sitting.
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The suit, filed on February 7, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Lafia with suit number FH/LF/FHR/6/2025, lists Justice Shama, the Registrar of the Doma High Court, the Commissioner of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and a police orderly, Dahiru Maruf, as respondents.
In a sworn affidavit dated February 11, Nalaraba stated that on February 5, 2025, he had appeared before Justice Shama at the Doma High Court and filed a motion requesting the judge to recuse himself from a case due to a perceived likelihood of bias. However, the judge declined, insisting on hearing both the recusal application and the main suit.
According to Nalaraba, the judge’s refusal forced him to withdraw from the case, but instead of allowing him to leave, Justice Shama allegedly ordered his detention and the confiscation of his two mobile phones.
His lawyer, Abubakar Dogara Esq, revealed that Nalaraba was arrested inside the courtroom while fully robed as a lawyer and taken to Doma Police Division, where he was detained overnight until he surrendered his phones.
Nalaraba has asked the court to declare that his arrest, detention, and phone confiscation were unconstitutional and a violation of his fundamental rights under Sections 34, 35, 36, 37, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution. He is seeking:
- N200 million in compensation for the unlawful seizure of his mobile phones, which deprived him of communication.
- N150 million in exemplary damages for the unconstitutional detention and infringement of his rights.
- N10 million in general damages against the respondents.
Earlier, Nalaraba had submitted a petition to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, alleging that Justice Shama violated his rights by detaining him and seizing his phones without provocation.
During the court hearing, Nalaraba’s counsel, Abubakar Dogara, informed the judge of efforts to serve the legal processes, which the defense counsel, Yahaya Dangana, confirmed.
The case has been adjourned until April 29, 2025, for hearing.
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