A woman has asked the Katsina State High Court to hold the state’s Hisbah Board and four individuals accountable for alleged violations of her fundamental rights, seeking N5 million in damages.
Hauwa Umar Saulawa filed the suit, numbered KTH/3077/2026, through her lawyer, Mujaheed Alameen of Imtiyaz Law Chambers, on October 7, 2026.
According to a report by Katsina Times, the claimant alleges that she was arrested on August 21, 2026, and detained until about 3 p.m. the following day in connection with an alleged adultery-related offence. She further claims that she was subjected to 33 strokes of the cane.
The defendants named in the suit are the Katsina State Hisbah Board, former Deputy Commander-General of Hisbah Malam Muhammad Shitu Maslaha, Malam Nafiu M. Akilu, Huraira Ahmad and Kabiru Mashi, popularly known as “KB Engineer.”
Saulawa is asking the court to declare the alleged arrest, detention and flogging unlawful, arguing that the treatment violated her right to dignity under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as protections under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Beyond the N5 million compensation claim, she is seeking a written apology and an order restraining the defendants from unlawfully arresting, detaining, assaulting or harassing her in connection with the matter. She is also seeking legal costs and any further relief the court considers appropriate.
Katsina Times reported that the Hisbah Board and the other defendants had not publicly responded to the allegations as of the time of its report. The claims remain allegations before the court and have not been established by a judgment.
