The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has declared as illegal the March 9, 2020 dethronement and banishment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the Emir of Kano by the Kano State government.
Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, Justice Anwuli Chikere, ordered Kano state government pay N10m to the former Emir and also to tender an apology to published in two national dailies.
The Judge declared that the State’s dethronement and forceful banishment of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from the state were not only illegal but also unconstitutional and in gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
Kano State on March 9, 2020 deposed Sanusi from his position as the Emir of Kano, after accusing him of being disloyal and insubordinate.
Sanusi’s dethronement became controversial given the timing and the circumstances that surrounded it, especially as regards the role played by the Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Sanusi was first banished to a village in Nasarawa State called Loko, and was later forcefully taken to Awe town, where he was confined until March 13, 2020, when a court judge ordered that he be granted his personal freedom.
Tuesday’s judgment followed a case instituted by the former Emir, who asked for a determination of the legality of his being confined in Nasarawa state.
Sanusi in the suit asked the court to restore his rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association, and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State).
Those cited as respondents in the suit were the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Service, the Attorney General of Kano State, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
His lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, a SAN, informed the court that the former Emir did not intend to challenge his dethronement, but was in the court to seek redress over the gross violation of his fundamental rights given the harsh treatment meted out to him following his dethronement by the State government.
“My lord, this is not a chieftaincy matter. The Applicant is not before this court to challenge the Respondents’ actions with regards to his removal as Emir of Kano, but the way he was bundled to Abuja and banished to a remote location”.
