Court orders Governor Yusuf of Kano State to pay emir Bayero N10 million for rights violation

The Kano Division of the Federal High Court ordered the state government on Friday to pay N10 million in damages to Kano’s 15th Emir, Aminu Ado-Bayero, for violating his fundamental human rights.

Mr Ado-Bayero, through his counsel M L Yusufari (SAN), filed an exparte motion on May 27 asking the court to prevent the state government from arresting, intimidating, or infringing upon his rights.

Other respondents include the Attorney General of the Federation, Attorney General of Kano, Nigeria Police, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police Kano, State Security Service, NSCDC, Nigeria Army, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Air Force.

Justice Simon Amobeda delivered the verdict, describing Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s order for the police to arrest the 15th emir without legitimate basis as a threat to the applicant’s fundamental rights.

The judge ruled that this is provided by section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The act of the governor has forced the applicant into house arrest, preventing him from going freely about his lawful business, constitutes a flagrant violation of his fundamental right to freedom of movement as guaranteed under Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution,” that he was under.

He prohibited the second, third, fourth, and fifth respondents from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, and harassing the applicant or interfering with his or her fundamental rights, either directly or through their agents, servants, privies, or anyone else.

“The prayer for the cost of filing and prosecuting this suit is refused, the amount having not been specifically pleaded and strictly proved,” said Mr Amobeda.

The applicant’s second lawyer, Michael Jonathan (SAN), stated that the court had jurisdiction to entertain and hear the case because it was a basic rights suit.

Mr Jonathan urged the court to dismiss the respondent’s preliminary objection as unmeritorious and disrespectful of the court.

Mahmoud Abubakar-Magaji (SAN), counsel for the Kano State Attorney-General, urged the court to dismiss and strike out the entire process, including the originating summons of the applicant’s application on Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024 and fundamental rights.

He maintained that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the issue and urged the court to overturn the earlier exparte decision prohibiting the respondents from arresting, intimidating, or harassing the applicant.

On May 23, the State House of Assembly abolished all newly formed emirate councils in the state.

On May 23, the state governor dethroned Mr Ado-Bayero and reappointed Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano, four years after former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje deposed him.

(NAN)