Adamawa Man Dies in Custody Months After Court Declared Arrest Illegal

(High Court Adamawa. Photo by TVC News)

Umar Abubakar, one of 42 residents arrested in Mubi, Adamawa State, has died in custody.

He passed away on Thursday October 8 2026 at the Yola Custodial Centre.

Police arrested Abubakar and 41 others in Mubi on May 6 during an operation against suspected political thugs and other criminals.

He was arrested five days before his wedding.

On July 23 the Federal High Court in Yola ruled that the arrest and detention were illegal and unconstitutional.

The court ordered their release once each man signed a bond to keep the peace for two years.

The detainees had argued that the magistrate court that issued their remand order had no power over arrests made more than 200 kilometres away in Mubi.

They also said no one told them what crimes they were accused of.

Police then opened fresh charges at Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Mubi, which issued a new warrant on July 28.

The police said they were following the new warrant and not defying the High Court.

His lawyer, Abubakar Ali, told reporters that Abubakar collapsed in court on September 30.

He said the prosecution did not think it right to release him on medical bail, even after he fell ill.

His family and his would-be bride are now calling for an independent investigation.

They want to know what medical care he got after he collapsed and whether anything that went wrong contributed to his death.