Court rules that Lamido Sanusi's banishment breached his fundamental human rights

FORMER Emir of Kano Alhaji Lamido Sanusi has just secured a major legal victory after an Abuja high court ruled that his banishment to Awe in Nasarawa State after he was deposed was illegal and breached his fundamental human rights.

On March 9 last year, Alhaji Sanusi was deposed by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State amid allegations of insubordination. He was then moved out of Kano to Abuja and later to Awe against his wish, which a federal high court in Abuja has now declared as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

In its ruling today, the court held that the restrictions placed on Alhaji Sanusi after his deposition are a clear arbitrary violation of his right to freedom of movement and personal liberty granted by the Nigerian constitution. Justice Chikere agreed with the former monarch's lawyer Prince Lateef Fagbemi, that his client was moved out of Kano to Abuja and later to Awe against his wish.

Justice Chikere further held that the right to freedom of liberty and personal dignity granted under Section 34 of Nigeria’s constitution cannot be taken away as done by the Kano State government, police, Department of State Services and attorney-general of the federation except through an express order of the court. Subsequently the judge voided the arrest, harassment and banishment of Alhaji Sanusi.

A sum of N10m ($24,298) was awarded to the former emir as damages to be paid to him by the respondents. In addition, the court also issued an order directing the respondents to tender a public apology to Alhaji Sanusi to be published in two major national dailies for the embarrassment caused him by breaching his fundamental human rights.