By Our Reporter
A Federal High Court in Kano has ordered the Kano State Government to compensate the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, with N10 million for violating his fundamental human rights.
Justice Simon Amobeda delivered the ruling in favor of Aminu Bayero, who had filed a lawsuit seeking the enforcement of his rights.
Justice Amobeda condemned the order by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf for Bayero’s arrest, calling it unlawful and noting that it forced Bayero into house arrest out of fear of being detained.
Respondents in the case included the Attorney General of the Federation (1st respondent), the Attorney General of Kano State (2nd), the Nigeria Police Force (3rd), the Inspector General of Police (4th), the Commissioner of Police in Kano (5th), the Department of State Services (6th), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (7th), the Nigerian Army (8th), the Nigerian Airforce (9th), and the Nigerian Navy (10th).
The judge restrained the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, or harassing Bayero or interfering with his fundamental rights.
The judgment stated: “The act of the Governor of Kano State in directing the police to arrest the applicant without lawful justification is a threatened breach of the applicant’s right to liberty guaranteed under Section 35(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).
“The act of the Governor of Kano State in directing the police to arrest the applicant without lawful justification, which has forced the applicant into house arrest and prevented him from freely conducting his lawful business, constitutes a flagrant violation of his right to freedom of movement as guaranteed under Section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).
“The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents, their agents, servants, privies, or any other persons or authorities are hereby restrained from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, or harassing the applicant or interfering with his fundamental rights.
“The 2nd respondent and the Government of Kano State are ordered to pay the applicant N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) for the breach and potential breach of his rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).
“The request for the cost of filing and prosecuting this suit is denied, as it was not specifically pleaded and strictly proven,” Justice Amobeda concluded.