An Abuja Federal High Court, on Tuesday, declared as illegal and unconstitutional the banishment of the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II.
As reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Justice Anwuli Chikere held that the Emirate Council Law, 2019, used by the state government to banish Sanusi was in conflict with the Constitution of Nigeria, as amended.
REPORTERS AT LARGE Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was dethroned by the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, on March 9, 2020 and was subsequently banished from the state.
The former Emir however, on March 12, 2020, sued the Inspector-General of Police and Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS) over what he called ‘unlawful detention/confinement’.
Also joined in the motion, with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020, are the Attorney-General of Kano State and Attorney General of the Federation as third and fourth respondents, respectively.
Sanusi did not challenge his dethronement but sought an interim court order releasing him from the detention and/or confinement of the respondents.
The former CBN governor wanted the court to restoring his right to human dignity and personal liberty and also challenged the respondents, accusing them of harassing him and violating his rights.
Justice Chikere held that the country’s constitution was supreme and any law that ran contrary to it shall be null and void and declared that the former Emir has every right to live anywhere, including Kano State, as enshrined in the country’s constitution.
The trial judge struck out the name of the AGF from the suit, but restrained the first, second and third respondents from further harassing him.
The court awarded a N10 million fine against the first, second and third respondents, also ordered them to tenders a public apology to Sanusi in two national dailies.
