The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Kano branch, has strongly criticized the Kano State Police Command for allegedly refusing to obey a valid court order. The legal body raised alarms over the growing trend of security agencies operating above the law.
The Chairman of the NBA in Kano, Usman Umar Fari, made the allegation in an official statement released on Thursday. He expressed deep concern over the law enforcement agency’s apparent disregard for judicial authority.
Fari revealed that the Kano State High Court had explicitly ordered the immediate release of a lawyer, Ahmad Tijjani Miko. This order was issued in a fundamental rights enforcement case filed against the Commissioner of Police and three other respondents.
According to the NBA Chairman, Miko was allegedly held in police custody for seven straight days without being charged or taken before a court. This prolonged detention directly violates the constitutional time limits for holding suspects before arraignment.
Fari noted that the court order was officially served on the Commissioner of Police in Kano, yet the authorities allegedly ignored the directive. Instead of complying with the judge, the police continued to keep the legal practitioner in custody.
Condemning the incident, Fari warned that when those paid by taxpayers to enforce the law become its frontline violators, the fabric of civil society is fundamentally threatened. “This flagrant disobedience is not just a violation of the detained legal practitioner’s fundamental human rights; it is a direct assault on the judiciary and a dangerous invitation to anarchy,” he stated.
The NBA leadership argued that security agencies cannot reasonably expect citizens to respect the law if they themselves act with total disregard for the courts. The lawyers’ body stressed that the police must strictly operate within the boundaries of the Constitution and the rule of law.
Consequently, the association demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detained lawyer in strict compliance with the court’s ruling. They urged higher police authorities to intervene to prevent a breakdown of institutional order.
