A Federal High Court in Kano has ordered the Kano State Government to pay N10 million in compensation to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, for violating his fundamental human rights.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Simon Amobeda, comes in response to a suit filed by Bayero seeking the enforcement of his rights.
Justice Amobeda ruled that the directive issued by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to arrest Aminu Bayero was unlawful, as it effectively placed Bayero under house arrest due to fear of being detained.
The judge condemned the Governor’s actions as a breach of Bayero’s right to liberty, as guaranteed under Section 35(1) of the Nigerian Constitution.
The suit named multiple respondents, including the Attorney General of the Federation, the Attorney General of Kano State, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Kano, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, and Nigerian Navy.
In his judgment, Justice Amobeda restrained the Attorney General of Kano State, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police in Kano from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, or harassing Bayero or interfering with his fundamental rights.
The judgment 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 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 Applicant’s 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.”
