Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, November 30, declared as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, the banishment of the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to Awe, a remote community in Nasarawa State.
According to the ruling, the restrictions placed on Sanusi after his deposition on March 9, 2020, on allegations of insubordination are a clear arbitrary violation of his right to freedom of movement and personal liberty granted by the Nigerian constitution.
Justice Chikere agreed with Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), counsel to Sanusi, that his client was moved out of Kano to Abuja; and later to Awe, in Nasarawa State against his wish.
She further held that the right to freedom of liberty and personal dignity granted under Section 34 of Nigeria’s constitution cannot be taken away as done by the Kano Government, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) except with express order of the court.
The judge subsequently voided the arrest, harassment, and banishment of Sanusi to Abuja; and later to Nasarawa State and set it aside on the ground of being an infringement of his fundamental human rights.
A sum of N10 million was awarded to the former Emir as damages to be paid to him by the respondents.
The court also issued an order directing the respondents to tender a public apology to Sanusi; to be published in two major national dailies for the embarrassment caused him by breaching his fundamental human rights.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that Nigeria may cease to exist; if the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins the 2023 presidential election.
This was noted on Monday, November 29, by the PDP National Chairman-elect, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who spoke; when he received the leadership of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).
According to Ayu, it is the duty of opposition parties to educate Nigerians; that eight more years of APC will be a disaster for the country.
He listed the maladministration of the APC government to include nepotism; mismanagement of the nation’s economy; accumulation of foreign debts; devaluation of the nation’s currency, etc., and said these were the issues PDP was tackling.
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“Things have gone wrong and it is the responsibility of every political party to point them out; and provide alternative ways of tackling them; and I believe that if we join hands together we will change this country to be better.
“Nigeria seems to have the worst currency in Africa (even) Somalia that is a failed state is doing better than Nigeria. Our currency is a free fall. That is because we are an import-dependent economy.”
