A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared as unlawful and a violation of the fundamental human rights of the ex-Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, his banishment from Kano and forceful relocation to Awe in Nasarawa State.
Justice Anwuli Chikere, in a judgment on Tuesday, held that the manner Sanusi was forcefully removed from the palace after his dethronement and taken by operatives of the police and State Security Service (SSS) on the directive of the Kano State Government, to Nasarawa State against his will was a vicious violation of his rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.
Justice Chikere, who declared as a nullity, the Emirate Council Law 2019 under which the Kano State Government claimed to have acted, held that as a citizen of Nigeria, who has committed no offence, Sanusi was entitled to reside in any part of the country.
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The judge, who awarded N10 milion damages against the Kano State Government, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the SSS, also ordered them to offer public apology to Sanusi in at least two national dailies.
Although the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) was sued as the fourth respondent, Justice Chikere excluded the AGF from the suit on the grounds that the applicant failed to establish his case against the fourth respondent.