Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the deposed Emir of Kano, on Thursday, dragged the Inspector-General of Police(IGP), Mohammed Adamu; Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, to the Federal High Court, Abuja, over his alleged detention.
Also joined in a motion ex-parte with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020, filed by his team of lawyers led by Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN), who is leading the legal team are the Attorney General of Kano State and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami as 3rd and 4th respondents respectively. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, confirmed that the case was yet to be assigned to a judge.
Sanusi, who at the time was confined in Awe, a town in Nasarawa State, brought the application pursuant to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Articles 5, 6. 10 and 12(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, among others. The deposed emir sought for an interim order of the court releasing him from the detention and/or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s right to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating motion.
“An order granting leave to the applicant to effect service of this order alongside the originating motion and subsequent processes to any officer in the office of the 1st respondent at the headquarters,” among other requests. According to him, it is in the interest of justice to grant this application.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the release of Sanusi from detention. The judge Justice Anwuli Chikere granted the interim order following an ex parte application moved by Sanusi’s lawyer Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The judge also ordered that the order for the release of the deposed monarch should be served on the respondents to the application.
The respondents are the Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu; the Director-General of the Department of State Service, Yusuf Bichi; the Attorney-General of Kano State, Ibrahim Muktar, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Sanusi’s stay on the throne for over six years expired on Monday, March 9, 2020, after the Kano State Government announced his removal. Secretary to the state government Usman Alhaji said the Sanusi was removed for his “total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the governor and other lawful authorities.” He stated that Sanusi’s dethronement was necessary to preserve the “sanctity, culture, tradition, religion and prestige” of Kano people. Hours after Sanusi’s removal, the state government announced Aminu Ado Bayero as the new emir of Kano emirate.
Sanusi’s legal team led by former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) AB Mahmoud (SAN) on Tuesday described Sanusi’s banishment and alleged detention as illegal and unlawful. Mahmoud issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the state government to release Sanusi or face legal action.
He prayed the court to order his release from “the detention and or confinement of the respondents and to restore his rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating summons.” The judge fixed March 26 for further hearing in the case.
