Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the deposed Emir of Kano, had his freedom of movement and civil liberties restored by a landmark judgment from Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano on Friday. The 15th Emir of Kano was deposed by Governor Abba Yusuf based on a new law – Kano State Emirates Council Amendment Law of 2024 .
Justice Amobeda declared that the order given by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf to arrest the deposed monarch was unlawful and had subsequently forced the applicant into house arrest out of fear of being arrested.
“It is the duty of the court to protect the rights of every citizen, but that protection cannot be done in a vacuum; a person claiming violation of fundamental human rights must provide cogent and vital evidence, which the applicant has successfully done,” the judge said.
“I hold that without any lawful justification, the applicant is threatened, breaching his fundamental rights to liberty as guaranteed in Section 35(1) of the 1999 Constitution.”
The judge also ordered the Kano State Government to pay the deposed Emir N10 million in damages.
“The second respondent and the Government of Kano State should pay the sum of N10 million for breach and likely breach of his fundamental right to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed in the 1999 Constitution,” the judge stated.
The applicant wanted – the deposed Emir, wanted N5 billion in damages for threats to his human rights.
The respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (1st respondent), the Attorney General of Kano State (2nd), the Nigeria Police Force (3rd), the IGP (4th), the Commissioner of Police in Kano (5th), DSS (6th), NSCDC (7th), the Nigerian Army (8th), the Nigerian Air Force (9th), and the Nigerian Navy (10th respondent).
The judge also restrained the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing, or further interfering with the applicant’s fundamental rights.
Justice Amobeda noted that in 2019, the Kano State Government used the kingmakers to select a new emir. However, on Friday, May 23, 2024, the government used social media to announce the applicant’s deposition and instructed the police to arrest him, giving him 48 hours to vacate the palace.
Please comment and share this article, & Follow us on our social media handles.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
