Judgement on the suit filed before an Abuja High Court seeking to compel the Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim to pay N55 million to three suspects over alleged illegal detention will be delivered on August 24.

Inaku Ishaku, 28; Alhaji Abuja Yahaya, 35; and Alhaji Inuwa Mohammed, were on January 15 arrested in Maiduguri, Borno State on allegations of stealing motorcycle. They were allegedly transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Abuja on March 2 after the police accused them of belonging to the Boko Haram sect.

Their counsel, Kevin Emeka Okoro filed a motion for the enforcement of fundamental rights challenging the action of the police in detaining them for several months without trial. He argued that the action is "illegal, unconstitutional, null and void" and a violation of their fundamental rights as enshrined in Section 34, 35 and 36 of the Nigerian constitution.

But while arguing a counter affidavit filed yesterday before Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, counsel to the police, Ramamsomte Ezekiel, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said the rights of the suspects were not violated under section 4 of Police Act. He added that they were not in police custody having been handed over to the Ministry of Justice in Maiduguri for prosecution.

In their affidavits, Ishaku is asking for compensation of N15 million while Yahaya and Mohammed are asking for the sum of N20 million each.