By Jeffrey Agbo
A Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, along with five others, to pay N900 million in damages for the unlawful detention of Adara community elders in 2019.
Justice Hauwa’u Buhari delivered the ruling on Tuesday in a suit filed by Awemi Dio Maisamari and eight other elders from Southern Kaduna.
The court found that El-Rufai personally orchestrated the arbitrary arrests, making him directly liable for the N900 million compensation.
Additionally, the court awarded N10 million in general damages and another N10 million in special damages against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police and the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police.
Reacting to the judgment, the applicants’ counsel, Gloria Ballason, praised the decision as a major step toward ending executive impunity.
“This judgment marks a watershed against abuse of power and accountability for abuse, whether the occupiers of the office are temporarily shielded by immunity or not.
“Even when people in authority enjoy immunity, it does not warrant executive lawlessness,” she said.
El-Rufai was listed as the first respondent in his personal capacity, as the suit was filed after he left office.
The applicants were detained following the 2019 killing of Dr. Raphael Galadima, the Adara traditional ruler. El-Rufai had reportedly ordered their arrest, claiming they posed a security threat in Kajuru.
Among those detained were former commissioner Bawa Magaji and a former police commissioner. They were later released after the Attorney General found no evidence against them.
J.A. Danazumi, who represented the respondents and also serves as Solicitor General, declined to comment on the ruling.
