Court declares ex-Emir Sanusi’s banishment from Kano unlawful

A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the banishment of the ex-Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from Kano and forceful relocation to Awe in Nasarawa State as unlawful and a violation of his fundamental human rights.

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 the 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.

Chikere said Nigeria’s constitution is supreme and any law that is inconsistent with it shall be null and void.

The judge declared that the former emir has the right to live anywhere, including Kano State, as enshrined in the country’s constitution.

Sanusi, who was dethroned on March 9, 2020, had on March 12, 2020, sued the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS) over what he called “unlawful detention/confinement.”

The judge, who awarded N10 million 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.