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 breaching his fundamental human rights.
The court ruled that the Kano State Governor’s order for the Emir’s arrest was unlawful and forced him into house arrest, violating his rights to liberty and freedom of movement.
Justice Simon Amobeda delivered the judgment, restraining the respondents, including the Attorney General of Kano State, Nigeria Police Force, and others, from arresting, detaining, or harassing the Emir.
The respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation as 1st respondent, Attorney General of Kano State (2nd), Nigeria Police Force (3rd), IGP (4th), Commissioner of Police in Kano (5th), DSS (6th), NSCDC (7th), Nigerian Army (8th), Nigerian Airforce and Nigerian Navy as 9th and 10th respondents respectively.
The Judge however, restrained the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th from arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing the Applicant or further interfering with the Applicant’s fundamental rights.
The court awarded the sum of N10 million as compensation for the breach of the Emir’s fundamental rights.
The Emir had instituted the case seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights, following the Kano Governor’s order for his arrest.
The judgment is a significant victory for the Emir and a precedent for the protection of fundamental rights in Nigeria.
Report by ABDULLAHI JALALUDDEEN
