First in Nasarawa’s History: High Court Judge Dragged to Court for Alleged Misuse of Judicial Power, Unlawful Arrest, and Detention of Lawyer

A legal practitioner, Isah Hassan-Nalaraba, has filed a ₦610 million lawsuit against a Nasarawa State High Court judge, Justice Abdullahi Ha...

A legal practitioner, Isah Hassan-Nalaraba, has filed a ₦610 million lawsuit against a Nasarawa State High Court judge, Justice Abdullahi Hassan-Shama, over allegations of illegal detention and the confiscation of his mobile phones.

The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lafia, accuses the judge of violating Nalaraba’s fundamental rights during a court appearance on February 5, 2025.

Nalaraba claims that after filing a motion requesting the judge to recuse himself due to perceived bias, Justice Hassan-Shama refused and insisted on hearing both the recusal application and the substantive suit. In response, Nalaraba withdrew from the case, describing the judge’s actions as unconstitutional.

The lawsuit, with suit number FH/LF/FHR/6/2025, lists Justice Hassan-Shama, the registrar of the Doma High Court, the Commissioner of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and a police officer, Dahiru Maruf, as respondents. Nalaraba is seeking compensation for the alleged violations, including ₦250 million for his alleged unlawful arrest from the courtroom and detention in police custody for over 24 hours without legal justification, ₦200 million for the alleged seizure and confiscation of his two mobile phones, which he claims deprived him of communication with family, friends, and professional contacts, ₦150 million in exemplary damages for what he describes as an unconstitutional and illegal arrest, detention, and confiscation of his phones, in violation of sections 34(1), 35(3)(2)(6), 36(1), 37, 41(1), and 44(1) of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended), as well as Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and ₦10 million in general damages against the respondents.

In a petition to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, Nalaraba further accused the judge of ordering his detention and seizing his phones without justification.