A Senior Magistrate Court sitting in Mararaba has revoked the bail earlier granted to prominent legal practitioner, Abdul Mahmud, ordering that he be remanded in prison custody pending further orders.
Presiding Magistrate, Senior Magistrate Zuluhait Yusuf, ruled that Mahmud’s bail be withdrawn on the grounds that he allegedly breached bail conditions tied to his release on June 3, 2023.
However, Mahmud has strongly contested the decision, describing it as a “judicial ambush” and insisting that the bail granted to him was on self-recognisance and without any conditions.
“It bears emphasis that the bail granted to me on 3rd June 2023 was on self-recognisance and without any conditions whatsoever. There were, therefore, no conditions capable of being breached,” he said in a formal statement dated February 27, 2026.
The senior lawyer suggested that the revocation was not a routine judicial action but a calculated move linked to his ongoing dispute with a serving police officer, DCP Amabua Muhammed.
“The revocation appears to be a judicial ambush, calculated to punish me for asserting my rights in the face of sustained harassment by a serving police officer, DCP Amabua Muhammed,” Mahmud stated.
He explained that the immediate pretext for the revocation was a petition written by his client, Fatima Estate Association, to the former Inspector-General of Police over what he described as continued harassment of its officials at the instance of the police officer. According to him, the petition resulted in the officer being summoned by the police in October last year.
Reflecting on his decades-long legal career, Mahmud expressed shock at the development.
“In my 34 years at the Bar, I have never encountered a situation in which a court sought to restrain a defendant from defending himself against persistent official intimidation, effectively tying his hands while his adversary operates with impunity,” he said.
He disclosed that his legal team, led by Innocent Da’agba, has commenced steps to challenge the court’s decision.
“My legal team, led by Innocent Da’agba, is presently taking all necessary steps to address this development and ensure that the rule of law prevails,” he added.
The development has drawn attention within legal circles, raising questions about bail conditions, judicial discretion, and the broader implications for due process.
