The Federal High Court in Kano has ruled in favour of the dethroned Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, awarding him the sum of N10,000,000 for the violation of his fundamental rights, personal liberty, and freedom of movement.
In a decisive judgement delivered by Justice Simon Amobeda, the court denounced the actions of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, declaring the arrest of Aminu Bayero to be unjustified and unlawful.
Justice Amobeda emphasized that the governor’s directive had subjected Bayero to unwarranted house arrest and the constant threat of further legal action.
The lawsuit named several respondents, including the Attorney General of the Federation and the Attorney General of Kano State, as well as law enforcement agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, NSCDC, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Airforce, and Nigerian Navy.
Furthermore, the court issued a restraining order against the Attorney General of Kano State and the law enforcement agencies involved, prohibiting them from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing, or interfering with Bayero’s fundamental rights any further.
This ruling marks a significant legal victory for Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero in his ongoing legal battles following his dethronement as the Emir of Kano.
The judgement reads: “That, the act of the Governor of Kano State in directing the Police to arrest the Applicant without any lawful justification is a threatened breach of the fundamental right to Liberty of the Applicant guaranteed under Section 35(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).
“That, the act of the Governor of Kano State in directing the police to arrest the Applicant without any lawful justification, which directive has forced the Applicant into house arrest, preventing him from going freely about his lawful business, constitutes a flagrant violation of his fundamental right to freedom of movement as guaranteed under Section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).
“That the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Respondents are either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies, or any other person or authority forthwith restrained from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing the Applicant or further interfering with the Applicant’s fundamental rights.
“That the 2nd Respondent and the Government of Kano State shall pay to the Applicant the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) only for the breach and likely breach of the Applicants fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).
“The prayer for the cost of filing and prosecuting this suit is refused, the amount having not been specifically pleaded and strictly proved,” Justice Amobeda however ordered.
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