A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declared the banishment of the deposed Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II from Kano State as unconstitutional.
In his judgment on Tuesday, Justice Anwuli Chikere held that the Emirate Council Law, 2019, used by the state government in banishing Sanusi was in conflict with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
Chikere said that the country’s constitution was supreme and any law that ran contrary to 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 News Agency of Nigeria reports that Sanusi, who was dethroned on March 9, 2020, had on March 12, 2020, sued the Inspector-General of Police and Director-General, Department of State Services over what he called ‘unlawful detention/confinement.’
Also joined in the motion with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020 are the Attorney-General of Kano State and Attorney General of the Federation as third and fourth respondents respectively.
Although Sanusi was not challenging his dethronement, the former emir, however, sought an interim order of the court releasing him from the detention and/or confinement of the respondents and restoring his right to human dignity and personal liberty.
He also challenged the respondents for harassing him and violating his rights.
Justice Chikere, who struck out the name of the AGF from the suit, also restrained the first, second and third respondents from further harassing him.
The court, awarding a N10 million fine against the first, second and third respondents, also ordered them to tenders a public apology in two national dailies.
(NAN).
