The Kano State Government has rejected the judgment by the Federal High Court declaring the banishment of the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, as unlawful and unconstitutional.
1st News had reported that the court in Abuja also ordered the Kano state government to pay Mr Sanusi N10 million as compensation.
However, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Musa Lawan, on Tuesday, November 30, said the government would appeal the judgment.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday in the suit filed by Mr Sanusi, the judge, Anwuli Chikere; awarded the N10 million compensation against the respondents comprising the police; the State Security Service (SSS), and the Attorney-General of Kano State.
She also ordered them to tender a public apology to Mr Sanusi in two national dailies.
Ms Chikere held that the Emirate Council Law, 2019, relied on by the Kano State government; in banishing Mr Sanusi was in conflict with the Nigerian constitution.
According to Ms Chikere, the Nigerian constitution is supreme; and any law that is inconsistent with it shall be null and void.
The judge declared that the former emir had the right to live anywhere; including Kano State, as enshrined in the country’s constitution.
The Kano State Government had on March 9, 2020, deposed Mr Sanusi after which security agents moved him to Abuja.
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He was later banished to Awe in Nasarawa State, where he was confined to a private house; until March 13 when he obtained an interim order of the court for his release from house arrest.
Mr Sanusi has since been living in Lagos as a private citizen; and has been travelling to other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Lagos was on Tuesday, November 30; told that former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode had complied with its order; directing him to pay N200,000 for failing to appear to answer charges bordering on money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Fani-Kayode alongside former finance minister Nenadi Usman.
Also charged is Yusuf Danjuma, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd.
EFCC preferred a 17-count charge of N4.6billion money laundering against them in the case that was initially handled by Justice Mohammed Aikawa.
They had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails.
The trial had begun before Justice Aikawa and witnesses were still being led in evidence, but Aikawa was transferred out of the Lagos division.
The case was consequently assigned to a new Judge, Justice Daniel Osaigor; and the defendants were scheduled for re-arraignment on Oct. 13.
