By Ismail Auwal
The detention of the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, in Awe, a remote community in Nasarawa State, has been declared illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The restrictions imposed on Sanusi following his deposition on March 9, 2020, on allegations of insubordination, according to the presiding judge, Justice Anwuli Chikere, are a clear arbitrary violation of his right to freedom of movement and personal liberty guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution.
She also ruled that the right to liberty and personal dignity guaranteed by Section 34 of Nigeria’s constitution cannot be revoked except by express order of the court, as done by the Kano government, police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The judge then voided Sanusi’s arrest, harassment, and deportation to Abuja, and later to Nasarawa State, on the grounds that it violated his fundamental human rights.
The former Emir was awarded N10 million in damages to be paid by the respondents.
The court also issued an order directing the respondents to tender a public apology to Sanusi for the embarrassment caused him by violating his fundamental human rights, which will be published in two major national dailies.
