By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice S.A. Amobeda, has awarded N10 million to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, for the breach of his fundamental human rights.
The court’s certified judgment states, “The 2nd respondent and the government of Kano state shall pay to the applicant the sum of N10,000,000 (ten million naira) only for the breach and likely breach of the applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
This ruling follows an earlier directive by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, instructing the state police command to arrest the dethroned Emir, prompting Bayero to seek enforcement of his fundamental human rights in court.
In the case with suit number FHC/KN/CS/190/2024, the ten respondents include the Attorney General of the Federation, Attorney General of Kano, Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Kano State, and the Department of State Services, among others.
In its judgment on Friday, the court ruled that the Governor’s order to arrest the 15th Emir of Kano constituted a threatened breach of his fundamental right to liberty, citing section 35(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The court also stated, “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 freely going 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.”
The respondents are further instructed by the court to refrain from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, or harassing the applicant.
