The detention of the ousted Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to Awe, a distant hamlet in Nasarawa State, has been deemed illegal, illegitimate, and unconstitutional by Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Sanusi’s limitations imposed following his detention on March 9, 2020, on charges of insubordination, according to the court, are a blatant arbitrary breach of his right to freedom of movement and personal liberty granted by the Nigerian constitution.
Sanusi’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, concurred with Justice Chikere that his client was relocated from Kano to Abuja and then to Awe, Nasarawa, against his will.
She further stated that the right to liberty and human dignity guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitution, as exercised by the Kano State administration, police, DSS, and AGF, can only be taken away with an express court order.
Sanusi’s detention, harassment, and deportation to Abuja and then Nasarawa state were eventually overturned by the judge as an infringement of his fundamental human rights.
The former Emir was given N10 million in damages, which the respondents must pay.
The court also issued an order for the respondents to offer a public apology to Sanusi for the shame he has suffered as a result of the respondents’ violation of his human rights, which would be published in two prominent national daily.