The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has launched a stinging critique of the Nasarawa State judiciary.
In a statement made available to Securitynewsalert.com, RULAAC is demanding the immediate release of veteran lawyer Abdul Mahmud Aminu, whose sudden remand in Keffi Prison they describe as a calculated “judicial ambush.”
Mahmud, a man who has spent over 30 years defending the rights of others, now finds himself behind the very bars he often fought to keep his clients away from. Despite voluntarily returning from the United Kingdom to face trial, a move his supporters say proves his respect for the law, his bail was abruptly revoked by Senior Magistrate Amina Yusuf in Mararaba.
“We are witnessing a dangerous moment where the court, meant to be a sanctuary of justice, is being used as a tool of retaliation,” said Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director of RULAAC. “Mr Mahmud isn’t just a lawyer; he is a defender of the defenceless who is now being punished for simply doing his job and challenging police harassment.”
The case against Mahmud reportedly stems from his advocacy against a serving police officer. While his original 2023 bail was granted on self-recognisance, the court suddenly cited “breaches” that his legal team insists are a fabrication designed to silence him.
“Judicial processes must not be used to settle scores against activists or ordinary citizens,” Nwanguma continued. “Bail is a constitutional right, not a favour to be snatched away without a transparent and fair process. When we allow the law to be weaponised like this, we lose the public’s trust in the entire system.”
RULAAC’s leadership expressed deep alarm that the remand appears to be a direct response to petitions Mahmud filed on behalf of community associations alleging abuse of authority by senior police personnel.
They argue that if a lawyer of Mahmud’s standing can be “ambushed” by the system, no ordinary Nigerian is safe.
“This is about more than one man; it is about the sacrosanct right to a legal defence,” the organisation stated. “Any attempt to intimidate a lawyer into silence undermines the very foundation of our democracy.”
RULAAC is now calling on the National Judicial Council (NJC) and international human rights bodies to intervene. Their demands are clear: an immediate review of the bail revocation and the release of a man they believe is being persecuted for his principles.
“We remain committed to protecting legal practitioners from retaliation,” Nwanguma added. “The world is watching how Nigeria treats those who stand up for the rule of law.”
