Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Umar Abubakar, one of 42 residents arrested in Mubi, Adamawa State, has died in custody, months after a Federal High Court declared the group’s arrest and continued detention illegal and ordered their release.
Abubakar reportedly died on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the Yolde-Pate Custodial Centre in Yola, according to a report by SaharaReporters published on Friday.
His lawyer, Abubakar Ali, confirmed the death, saying his client had collapsed during a court sitting on September 30 but remained in custody until his death.
The lawyer reportedly questioned why Abubakar was not released on medical grounds after the collapse, alleging that the prosecution did not consider his deteriorating condition sufficient reason to grant him medical bail.
Abubakar was among 42 residents arrested by the Adamawa State Police Command in Mubi on May 6, 2026. He was reportedly arrested five days before his scheduled wedding.
The arrests triggered a legal battle over the detainees’ continued custody. On July 23, the Federal High Court in Yola declared their arrest and detention illegal, unconstitutional, null and void, ordering their immediate release upon each applicant entering into a bond to be of good behaviour for two years.
The detainees had challenged the legality of a remand warrant obtained from a magistrate’s court in Yola, arguing that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction over their arrests in Mubi, more than 200 kilometres away. They also alleged that they had not been informed of the specific offences they were suspected of committing.
However, the police subsequently maintained that the detainees remained in custody under a fresh warrant issued by Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Mubi on July 28. The new warrant became central to the dispute over whether the authorities had complied with the Federal High Court’s ruling.
Abubakar’s death has intensified concerns among relatives and advocates over the detainees’ continued custody and the circumstances surrounding his medical condition.
His family is demanding an independent investigation into his death, including whether he received appropriate medical attention after collapsing in court.
The case also raises questions about compliance with court orders, the protection of detainees’ fundamental rights and the responsibility of custodial authorities to provide timely medical care.
As of the time of reporting, the circumstances surrounding Abubakar’s death had not been independently established, and no detailed official account of his medical treatment had been made available in the report.
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