Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has been ordered by the Federal High Court, Abuja, to prosecute or release a detainee, Mohammed Shuaibu, held since 2012.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed made the order at the time he ruled on the plea by Shuaibu’s lawyer, Mr A. O Emmanuel, on Wednesday.

Justice Mohammed said the police could only justify the applicant’s detention in the event of a conviction, which is yet to be done. Hence, the need for his release.

“I hereby make orders directing the respondent to release the applicant.

“If the respondent has a case against him, he should be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction within three weeks of service of this order.”

It was established by the judge that Shuaibu was arrested by officers of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna in 2012 and transferred to the Nigerian police on the ground that he was in possession of a stolen vehicle.

Since then, Shuaibu had been in detention without any proper trial whatsoever.

According to him, such act of detention is a violation of the fundamental rights of the accused, as contained in the 1999 Constitution as amended.