A man arrested five days before his wedding has died in custody in Adamawa State, weeks after a Federal High Court reportedly ordered the release of 42 detainees, including him, over the unlawful nature of their arrest and continued detention.
Umar Abubakar died on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Yolde-Pate Custodial Centre in Yola, the state capital, according to his lawyer, Abubakar Ali.
Ali confirmed the death, saying Abubakar had collapsed during a court sitting on September 30 but was not granted medical bail.
“He collapsed in court on September 30th, yet the prosecutor did not deem it appropriate to release him on medical bail,” the lawyer told SaharaReporters.
Abubakar's death has left his would-be bride and other family members devastated. They accused the authorities of contributing to the tragedy through what they described as an unjust arrest and failure to ensure he received timely medical attention.
He was among 42 residents arrested by the Adamawa State Police Command in Mubi on May 6, 2026. Their arrest and continued detention subsequently became the subject of a legal challenge.
Court ordered immediate release
The Federal High Court in Yola, in a judgment delivered on July 23, declared the arrest and continued detention of the applicants illegal, unconstitutional, null and void, according to reports.
The court ordered their immediate release, subject to each detainee entering into a bond to be of good behaviour for two years.
The detainees had challenged the legality of a remand warrant obtained from Chief Magistrate Court 2 in Yola, arguing that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction over their arrests in Mubi, located more than 200 kilometres away.
They also alleged that they had been held without being informed of the specific offences they were suspected of committing.
However, a report published on August 9 alleged that the police and the Nigerian Correctional Service in Adamawa failed to comply with the judgment.
Rather than being released, the detainees reportedly alleged that they were transferred from the correctional centre in Yola to Numan Prison.
The alleged failure to comply with the court order led to contempt proceedings against the Commissioner of Police and the Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Adamawa State.
When contacted over the matter, police spokesperson SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje told SaharaReporters that he had not been briefed on the development. He reportedly promised to seek clarification from the command's legal department.
The spokesperson for the correctional service did not respond to repeated calls and a text message seeking comments, according to the report.
Detainees face terrorism charges
Despite the court ruling, the 42 detainees were subsequently charged before the Adamawa State High Court with a three-count charge bordering on terrorism.
Abubakar's death has intensified concerns over the handling of the case, particularly the circumstances surrounding his continued detention after the reported judgment.
His lawyer's account that Abubakar collapsed during a court sitting before dying in custody has also raised questions about whether his medical condition was adequately addressed.
The circumstances surrounding his death and the allegations of non-compliance with the court order could not be independently established from the information provided.
The case has drawn attention to the legal rights of the detainees and the obligation of relevant authorities to comply with court orders.
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