Court Orders Release of Sheikh Zaria in Coup Plot Case

On Monday, Justice Peter O. Lifu ruled in favor of Sheikh Zaria, ordering his immediate and unconditional release from detention, which was deemed a violation of his fundamental rights under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

The court found that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Jaiz Bank PLC unlawfully restricted Sheikh Zaria's bank account without a valid court order, breaching his rights to dignity, liberty, and fair hearing. The court awarded N1 million against the EFCC and N4 million jointly against the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation for gross violations of Sheikh Zaria's rights.

Additionally, the DSS and the EFCC were ordered to publish a written apology to Sheikh Zaria. The case stemmed from Sheikh Zaria's detention in late 2025, linked to an investigation involving a coup plot, raising concerns about his whereabouts and the freezing of his bank account related to a N2 million transaction.