Two civil society groups are demanding the immediate release of Islamic scholar Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria. They say a Federal High Court judgment ordering his freedom must be obeyed.
TIGMEIN and Concerned Citizens of Kaduna State made the demand at a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday. They accused the Federal Government of violating the rule of law by keeping the cleric detained.
Sayyadi Nasiru Sheikh Bello, the Kaduna State Coordinator of TIGMEIN, addressed journalists at the event. He stressed that authorities must fully respect the judiciary's orders without delay or conditions.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had ruled that Sheikh Zaria's detention breached his constitutional rights. The court ordered his unconditional release and awarded him N8 million in compensation.
Part of that compensation was for unlawful restrictions placed on his bank accounts. The prolonged detention also factored into the damages calculation.
But the groups say the government has ignored the ruling entirely. Instead, fresh charges have been filed against the cleric, they alleged.
"Rather than obey the court order, the Federal Government has continued actions that amount to disobedience of the judiciary," the group stated. "This is dangerous for democracy and undermines public confidence in the rule of law."
TIGMEIN warned that such conduct weakens democratic institutions across the country. It also creates a false impression that leaders pick which court decisions to follow.
The organization is now demanding three key actions from authorities. These include releasing Sheikh Zaria immediately, paying the N8 million award, and explaining why fresh charges were filed.
Officials must also stop any plans to re-arrest or recharged him again. According to the groups, this is the only path forward.
TIGMEIN didn't hold back on political consequences either. The group warned it could withdraw support for President Tinubu and the ruling APC party.
"Let it be clearly stated that respect for the rule of law is non-negotiable in a democracy," the organisation said. "If this injustice continues, we will have no choice but to withdraw our support and mobilise others to do the same."
The groups are calling on civil society organisations and human rights groups to speak out. Media organisations should also challenge what it called executive overreach, they added.
Sources within TIGMEIN say the case has become a test of Nigeria's commitment to democracy. They believe compliance with court orders is essential for credible governance.
