The banishment of the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has been declared as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional by Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court held that the restriction placed on Sanusi after his deposition on March 9, 2020, on the allegation of insubordination, was a clear violation of his right to freedom of movement and personal liberty granted by the constitution.
Justice Chikere held that Kano State law was in conflict with the constitution to have held the deposed Emir against his will without a valid court order.
The court also said that the movement of the applicant (Sanusi) from Kano to Abuja and Awe against his will was contrary to the constitution.
The judge further held that the right to freedom of liberty and personal dignity granted under Section 34 of Nigeria’s Constitution could not be taken away as done by the Kano Government, Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), except with express order of the court.
The judge specifically said that the movement of the applicant without a valid court order was clearly a violation of his rights, unconstitutional and a breach of his personal liberty.
Justice Chikere, who subsequently voided the arrest, harassment and banishment of Sanusi and set it aside on the ground of being an infringement on his fundamental human rights, awarded N10 million to the former Emir as damages to be paid to him by the respondents.
The court also issued an order directing the respondents to tender a public apology to Sanusi to be published in two major national dailies for the embarrassment caused by him by breaching his fundamental human rights.
