– Abuja, Nigeria
A Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the arrest and prolonged detention of popular TikToker Timothy Gabriel, known as Tumma, by Nigerian police were unlawful and unconstitutional. In a judgment issued on June 23, 2026, Judge Emeka Nwite Egwuatu declared that these actions constituted a serious violation of Gabriel's fundamental human rights. The court awarded the police 3 million naira in damages, both compensatory and punitive.
Gabriel was arrested on February 6, 2025, and detained for 48 days, a period the judge described as excessive and inhumane. The court determined that this violated his right to personal liberty, enshrined in Article 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. His right to human dignity, enshrined in Article 34(1)(a) of the Constitution and Article 5 of the African Charter, was also violated.
The TikTok user, through his lawyer, Dr. S. M. Oyeghe, filed the claim under the Rules of Procedure for the Implementation of Fundamental Rights, seeking redress for the unlawful detention. Judge Egwuatu ruled in Gabriel’s favor, noting that the prolonged detention exposed him to unjustified degrading treatment.
In addition to compensation for damages, the court issued a permanent injunction prohibiting the Nigerian Police, its officers, agents, and associates from unlawfully arresting or detaining Gabriel again. The police were also ordered to publish a formal apology in at least one national newspaper.
This ruling underscores the role of the judiciary in protecting citizens' rights against arbitrary actions by law enforcement. It serves as a reminder that arrests must comply with constitutional guarantees, thereby strengthening accountability within Nigeria's security apparatus.