Court Reverse Sanusi’s Banishment, Orders Ganduje To Apologize, Pay Compensation

A Federal High Court in Abuja has reversed the banishment of the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to Awe, Nasarawa State by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

KanyiDaily had reported that Sanusi was dethroned as Emir of Kano on Monday, March 9, 2020, over alleged disrespect to the office of the state governor and other government agencies.

Consequently, the former monarch was banished to Nasarawa State where he’s expected to spend the rest of his life in exile following his dethronement by Governor Ganduje.

However, in a ruling on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, Justice Anwuli Chikere said the banishment of Sanusi from Kano to Nasarawa is unlawful and a violation of his fundamental human rights.

The judge ruled that the restrictions placed on Sanusi after his deposition on March 9, 2020, on allegations of insubordination are a clear arbitrary violation of his rights to freedom of movement and personal liberty granted by the Nigerian constitution.

Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, counsel to Sanusi, had said his client was moved out of Kano to Abuja and later to Awe, in Nasarawa State against his wish by the Kano Government, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)

The judge, therefore, 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 except with express order of the court.

The judge subsequently voided the arrest, harassment, and banishment of Sanusi to Abuja and later set it aside on ground of being an infringement of his fundamental human rights.

Justice Chikere, who struck out the name of the AGF from the suit, awarded a sum of N10million to the former Emir as damages to be paid to him by the first, second, and third 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 him by breaching his fundamental human rights.

KanyiDaily had published a video showing the moment Sanusi was escorted out of the palace after he was dethroned by Governor Ganduje-led Government.