A FEDERAL High Court in Kano has ordered the state government to pay N10 million in compensation to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, for breaching his fundamental human rights.
The court headed by Simon Amobeda, gave the directive while delivering the judgment in the case initiated by Bayero seeking the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
The judge described the order given by the state Governor Abba Yusuf to arrest the deposed emir as illegitimate.
He said the order had forced the applicant into house arrest.
The respondents in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st respondent, Attorney-General of Kano State (2nd), Nigeria Police Force (NPF) (3rd), Inspector-General of Police (IGP) (4th), Commissioner of Police in Kano (5th), State Security Service (SSS) (6th), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC (7th), Nigerian Army (8th), Nigerian Airforce and Nigerian Navy as 9th and 10th respondents respectively.
Amobeda prevented the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing, or further interfering with the applicant’s fundamental rights.
The judge declared that the governor’s order directing the police to arrest the applicant without any lawful justification was a threat and a breach of the fundamental right to liberty of the applicant guaranteed under Section 35(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“That the 2nd respondent and the Government of Kano State shall pay to the applicant the sum of N10,000,000.00 only for the breach and likely breach of the applicant fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“The prayer for the cost of filing and prosecuting this suit is refused, the amount having not been specifically pleaded and strictly proved.” Amobeda declared.
Kano has been in turmoil since the House of Assembly amended the law abolishing the existing five emirates and restoring the single emirate system in the state.
By implication, all the five emirs ruling at the time of the amendment were dethroned, and the state government reinstated Lamido Sanusi, deposed by the previous administration, led by the current national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje.
Sanusi’s reinstatement threw the state into confusion as the dethroned Emir Bayero refused to relinquish his office.
The matter has been pending in court, as both the state High Court and a Federal High Court in the state have issued conflicting orders on the matter.
The impasse has remained unresolved for nearly four weeks after.
The ICIR reported on Thursday that the Kano State Police Command banned durbar activities in the state as the Muslim faithful celebrate Eid-El-Kabir this weekend.
A statement issued by the state commissioner of police, Usaini Gumel, stated that the ban became necessary to sustain peace in the state.
According to reports, the deposed emir of the Kano emirate, Bayero, had on June 10, invited district heads for the forthcoming durbar, which Muslims often celebrate after every Eid.
The ICIR reports that the durbar festival is usually held twice yearly in Kano and some other ancient towns in Northern Nigeria, to mark the Eid-el-Fitr and Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
It is a colourful event that often lasts for three or four days, with the festival characterised by processions through the city, led by the emir, a key player in the event.
The emir leads about five processions throughout the festival.
However, the police said on Thursday that such activity would not be allowed in the interest of peace.
The police advised the faithful to conduct their normal Eid prayers at the various designated Eid praying grounds as done in the past.
A reporter with the ICIR
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