A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ordered the state government to pay N10 million compensation for breaching the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero’s fundamental human right.
Justice Simon Amobeda, the presiding judge, gave the order while delivering the judgment in the case instituted by Aminu Bayero seeking the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
Justice Amobeda condemned the actions of Governor Abba Yusuf, stating that the governor’s order for Bayero’s arrest was unlawful and had effectively placed the former Emir under house arrest.
The judge emphasized that this directive was a clear violation of Bayero’s right to liberty and freedom of movement.
The respondents in the suit are; the Attorney General of Kano State, Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police Kano State, State Security Service, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force.
However, Justice Amobeda restrains the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing, or further interfering with the Applicant’s fundamental rights.
“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 act of the Governor of Kano State in directing the police to arrest the Applicant without any lawful justification, which directive has forced the Applicant into house arrest, preventing him from going freely about his lawful business, constitutes a flagrant violation of his fundamental right to freedom of movement as guaranteed under Section 41(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 Applicants 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.” Justice Amobeda ordered.
