Court Orders DIA to Produce Cleric Accused of Coup Plot

On February 18, 2023, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, ordered the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to produce Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria, an Islamic cleric accused of being linked to a coup plot against the Nigerian government. The court stressed that security institutions must remain subordinate to civilian authority within Nigeria's democratic system.

Justice Lifu highlighted that Nigeria is a signatory to various international human rights conventions and cannot afford to compromise on fundamental rights. The cleric's legal team, comprising Sunusi Musa, San Abdul Aliyu, and San Moham Sheriff, filed a suit against the DIA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for his continued detention.

The court directed the DIA to either produce the cleric or provide legal justification for his detention. Sheikh Zaria has reportedly been held since December 11, 2022, without access to family, under allegations involving a $2 million gift linked to the Fityanul Islam Tijanniyya sect.