Reprieve came the way of the former Emir of Kano State, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday nullified his banishment by Kano State government after he was dethroned.
The ex-Emir who was also the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was banished to Awe in Nasarawa State government after he was dethroned, an agelong tradition that a dethroned Emir is sent out of sight from his Emirate.
But on Tuesday, Justice Anwuli Chikere ruled as unlawful Sanusi’s forceful relocation to Awe in Nasarawa State, stating that he was free to go back and live his life in Kano.
The Court further ruled that it amount to violation of his fundamental human rights, his banishment from Kano.
CAPITAL POST recalled that Sanusi was forcibly removed from the palace after his dethronement and taken against his will to Nasarawa State by operatives of the police and the State Security Service (SSS) on the directive of the Kano State Government, according to Justice Anwuli Chikere’s ruling on Tuesday.
Justice Chikere said Sanusi is a citizen who has not committed any criminal offence and is entitled to reside in any part of Nigeria, hence, she declared the Emirate Council Law 2019 that the Kano State Government claimed to have acted as a nullity.
Accordingly, Kano State government was fined N10 million including the DSS, Inspector General of Police as damages due to their action.
The Court further ordered all the respondents to tender a public apology to the former Emir in two National Dailies.
