Sadiq Wali vs.Calculate: Adamawa H/ court grants bail to political activist, Jada
In a fresh twist to the ongoing legal tussle between Sadiq Wali and a renowned political activist in Adamawa, Umar Bello Jada aka Calculate, Adamawa High court presided by Justice Ahmed Isa, has granted bail to Calculate who is also a close associate of former vice president Atiku in a high profile defamation suit.
This comes after a controversial period of detention ordered by Chief Magistrate Court II, presided over by Magistrate Musa Alhaji.
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Only Gangwari Ganye can stand as surety as court grants N5m bail to Calculate
Jada’s arrest was linked to a defamation lawsuit filed by Alhaji Sadiq Wali—a prominent politician and title holder of Walin Ganye and his son, Adamu Wali. The suit revolved around a viral audio recording which the plaintiffs claim severely damaged the elder Wali’s reputation.
Initially, when Jada sought bail at the magistrate court, Magistrate Musa set stringent conditions. He ruled that only a first-class traditional ruler—specifically, the Gangwari Ganye could stand as surety for Jada, alongside a bail bond of ₦5 million. These unusually tough bail terms effectively kept Jada in detention, prompting his legal team to seek redress at a higher court.
Acting swiftly, the activist’s lawyers filed an ex-parte motion for a judicial review before the Adamawa State High Court.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Ahmed Isa granted Jada bail on far more lenient terms, a ₦1 million bond and a surety who must be a resident of Yola.
Justice Isa did not mince words in criticizing the magistrate court’s handling of the case. He pointed out several procedural violations, including the lack of proper service of court summons and arrest warrants, as well as denying the accused sufficient time to prepare a defense.
The High Court judge also questioned why the magistrate court proceeded with the case in the absence of the complainants, Sadiq and Adamu Wali, stating that their absence stripped the court of jurisdiction to continue the matter.
In light of these findings, Justice Isa ordered the magistrate court to halt all further proceedings on the defamation case, at least until the High Court has had the opportunity to fully hear and rule on the substantive motion.
Outside the courtroom, Jada’s counsel, Barrister Desmond Adebole, hailed the ruling as a victory for democracy and the rule of law. He expressed dismay at the manner in which his client had been arrested and detained, arguing that basic legal protocols were disregarded.
“Our client was never served with any formal statement of complaint. He was arrested in a manner that can best be described as ‘gestapo-style’ right from the airport, and found himself in prison custody before he could even apply for bail,” Adebole said.
He explained that the decision to approach the High Court was born out of a need to protect Jada’s constitutional rights, emphasizing that the bail granted was a temporary relief pending the final determination of the motion on notice.
“To God be the glory, the court heard the matter today and granted our client interim bail. This is not just a win for him but a clear statement that the rule of law must prevail,” Adebole added.
The case has attracted public attention across Adamawa State, not only due to the high-profile personalities involved but also because it raises critical questions about judicial conduct, due process, and the limits of magistrate court jurisdiction in defamation cases.
The court was attended by highly placed politicians including Senator Ishaku Abbo, Alhaji Bamanga Yahaya and foremost Atiku’s associate, Alhaji Shiek Arabo amongst hundreds of people who attended the court.
