RULAAC condemns bail revocation, remand of human rights lawyer Abdul Mahmud Aminu
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has condemned the abrupt revocation of bail and subsequent remand of veteran human rights lawyer Abdul Mahmud Aminu to Keffi Prison by a Senior Magistrate’s Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
The ruling, issued by Senior Magistrate Amina Yusuf, cited alleged violations of bail conditions — claims that Mahmud and his legal team have firmly rejected.
Mahmud, a barrister with more than 30 years of practice, had voluntarily returned from the United Kingdom to stand trial. His original bail, granted in June 2023 on self-recognizance with no attached conditions, was suddenly withdrawn in what he described as a “judicial ambush” intended to penalize him for defending his rights and contesting ongoing harassment by a serving police officer.
A statement signed by RULAAC’s Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma said the development highlights a disturbing pattern which is that those who champion civil liberties, including lawyers and activists challenging alleged abuses by state agents, face retaliation through misuse of the judicial system.
It recalled that Mahmud’s case stems from his advocacy work, including petitions filed for clients and community groups accusing senior police officials of authority abuse and intimidation.
RULAAC stresses that: the courts must never serve as instruments of vengeance against individuals exercising their constitutional rights.
“Once lawfully granted, bail cannot be revoked arbitrarily and must follow a transparent, fair procedure aligned with Nigerian law and international human rights norms,” it said in the statement.
RULAAC views the action as a punitive tactic to suppress legitimate legal advocacy and dissent, creating a chilling precedent that allows law enforcement intimidation to extend into the courtroom and undermine core freedoms.
Accordingly, RULAAC urgently calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Abdul Mahmud Aminu pending a fair, impartial resolution of his case.
It also demanded for a thorough, independent review of the bail revocation process to prevent future abuses of judicial authority, and close monitoring of the case by oversight institutions, including the National Judicial Council and relevant international human rights bodies, to promote accountability.
