By Bayo Davids
Legal practitioners have condemned the remand of human rights lawyer and activist, Abdul Mahmud, by Senior Magistrate Zuluhiat Yusuf of the Senior Magistrate Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, describing the development as a violation of due process.
Mahmud was first arrested on May 27, 2023, after he challenged an attempt by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Amabua Muhammed, to arrest a security officer at Fatima Gold Estate without a warrant. The incident stemmed from a dispute over unpaid estate dues.
Speaking with our correspondent, Mahmud said he was initially detained at a police station on Abacha Road.
“On hearing of my arrest, Tunji Bello, PSO to Kayode Egbetokun, ordered my release. I was asked to return on June 3, 2023.
“On return on June 3, 2023, I was immediately arraigned and was granted bail on self-recognisance.
“On August 27, 2023, I was arrested again by the FCIB and interviewed and subsequently asked to go home as there was no case against me. The police woman continued harassing officials of the Estate. In October, they wrote a petition to the IGP who ordered her to appear to answer the petition against her.
“She turned around in court a few days later and claimed I broke my bail conditions by reporting her to the police authorities. She showed the police signal to the Magistrate, which my lawyers challenged.
“On Friday, the Magistrate revoked my bail on the basis of a signal that we don’t know the maker. The petition she claimed I wrote to the IGP wasn’t placed before the court.”
Mahmud maintained that he had always attended court proceedings.
“I have always attended court sittings since June 2023. In fact, I aborted my medical trip abroad last week to attend court today,” he added.
An international law firm, Liberty Semper Fidelis LP, also faulted the revocation of his bail, describing it as a judicial ambush.
In a statement issued by its Head of Chambers, Seun Awolade, the firm traced the dispute to a civil disagreement between the Incorporated Trustees of Fatima Gold Estate and the police officer, who allegedly failed to pay estate dues and development levies since acquiring properties in 2019.
The firm said the crisis escalated in June 2023 when Mahmud encountered police officers allegedly assaulting a security guard at the estate and demanded either a warrant of arrest or the involvement of the guard’s employer.
According to the statement, Mahmud was arrested the following day and later arraigned, after which he was granted bail on self-recognisance.
It added that a fresh complaint was later filed against him at the Force Intelligence Bureau, where he was detained for several hours before being released again on bail, with the complaint subsequently quashed.
The firm alleged that efforts by Mahmud to petition relevant oversight bodies over alleged abuse of office were ignored, “while the prosecution’s conduct in court increasingly suggested persecution rather than prosecution.”
It further stated that communication about court dates was irregular and often relayed to the defence through the prosecution.
The statement noted that Mahmud travelled to the United Kingdom for medical treatment but returned to Nigeria specifically to attend court proceedings.
It said that when the matter came up on February 27, 2026, “the Magistrate dismissed Mahmud’s preliminary objection challenging jurisdiction and proceeded to revoke his bail.”
After delivering the ruling on jurisdiction, the prosecution reminded the court that a decision on the bail revocation application was pending.
According to the firm, the Magistrate responded, “I thought we agreed to forget the issue of bail revocation.”
The firm said Mahmud’s counsel never entered into any such agreement and called on the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State to review the conduct of the proceedings.
It also expressed concern that the Magistrate, reportedly transferred to Lafia since October 2025, continued to preside over the matter.
Meanwhile, Abuja-based lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has called for Mahmud’s immediate release.
“I have been made aware of reports regarding the remand of Abdul Mahmud pursuant to an order of court. While I have a pending civil suit against him which remains before the court for determination, I believe that the preservation of a person’s liberty should always be approached with caution and in strict adherence to due process.
“Lawyers should not be exposed to punitive consequences for carrying out their professional duties except in clear and compelling circumstances established by law. I, therefore, call for his unconditional release from
Keffi prison.”