Niger Islamic Preacher, Muhammad Ndaman, Appeals to Bago Over 11-Month Detention, Seeks Enforcement of Court Judgement
…Alleges unlawful detention, says courts awarded him ₦11 million in damages and litigation costs
By Our Correspondent In Minna
An Islamic preacher in Niger State, Muhammad Ndaman, popularly known as Baba-Abuja, has appealed to Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to intervene in ensuring justice and the enforcement of court judgements arising from his alleged unlawful detention for 11 months.
Ndaman, identified as the National President of the Youth Preachers Alliance for Bago 2023, made the appeal in an open letter addressed to the governor and made available to journalists in Niger State.
In the letter, he alleged that his detention, which he said began on October 23, 2023, followed actions by the Chief Magistrate I, Minna, Uma Katume Mohammed, under circumstances he maintained did not satisfy the requirements of the law.
He explained that the reason given for his detention was an allegation that he stood as surety for a criminal defendant who subsequently absconded from trial. However, Ndaman insisted that the allegation was unfounded.
The preacher said he had challenged the detention in court, adding that judgements delivered in the matter declared the actions against him illegal and unconstitutional.
Recalls Support for Bago's Administration
Ndaman, in the letter, reminded Governor Bago of the role played by his organisation in mobilising support for the governor and President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 general elections.
He described the Youth Preachers Alliance for Bago 2023 as a coalition of young Islamic preachers committed to spiritual development, peace advocacy, unity campaigns, voter education and civic engagement.
According to him, the organisation contributed to efforts aimed at promoting peace and securing electoral support for the current administration at both state and national levels.
He also recalled that the alliance organised a one-day seminar across the state's four emirate councils on the theme, “The Significance of Islamiyya Teachers in Our Politics.”
The preacher said he had previously written to the governor on October 3, 2024, under reference number YPA/NGO/003/VOL.1, on the subject of his 11-month detention.
Cites Federal High Court Judgement
Ndaman further disclosed that he instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Commissioner of Police and three other respondents at the Federal High Court, Minna.
He cited Suit No. FHC/MN/CS/66/2024, stating that the court, presided over by Justice Abdullah M. Dan-Ige, delivered judgement in his favour.
According to the judgement reproduced in his letter, the court declared that the alleged misconduct and careless acts of the second and third respondents, which led to his arrest, detention, conviction and sentence by the Chief Magistrate Court I, Minna, were unjustified, illegal and unconstitutional.
He said the court held that the actions violated his fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement under Sections 35(1) and 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, as well as relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Ndaman further stated that the court ordered the respondents, jointly and severally, to pay him ₦10 million in damages for the unlawful arrest, detention, conviction and imprisonment.
The judgement, as quoted in his letter, also directed the respondents to publish a public apology to him in a national newspaper with wide circulation in Nigeria within 30 days of the judgement.
Additionally, the court ordered the respondents to pay ₦1 million as the cost of litigation.
Appeals for Enforcement of Judgement
The Islamic preacher said he attached a copy of the judgement to his letter to clarify the legal position of the matter and counter what he described as rumours and speculation surrounding his detention.
He appealed to Governor Bago to assist in ensuring that justice was served through the enforcement of the court's orders.
“This is the judgement as delivered by Hon. Justice Abdullah M. Dan-Ige. I need justice and enforcement of this judgement, Your Excellency,” Ndaman said in his appeal.
He urged the governor to give attention to his case, stressing that the enforcement of the court's decision was necessary to address the alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
The allegations and account of the court proceedings in this report are based on Ndaman's open letter. The responses of the named judicial officer and other respondents were not included in the statement made available to journalists.
