The banishment of deposed Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II from Kano State has been declared unlawful and unconstitutional, a Federal High Court, Abuja, has ruled.
The court awarded a N10 million fine against the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents.
Also joined in the motion are the Attorney-General of Kano State and Attorney General of the Federation as 3rd and 4th respondents respectively.
The court ordered them to tender a public apology in two national dailies.
In a judgment on Tuesday, Justice Anwuli Chikere, held that the Emirate Council Law, 2019, used by the state government in banishing Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II was in conflict with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
Chikere also held that Nigeria’s Constitution is supreme and any law that is inconsistent with it shall be null and void.
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“The former emir has the right to live anywhere, including Kano State, as enshrined in the country’s constitution.”
Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II who was dethroned on March 9, 2020, had on March 12, 2020, sued the Inspector-General of Police and Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS) over what he called “unlawful detention/confinement.”
Although Sanusi was not challenging his dethronement, the former emir, however, sought an interim order of the court releasing him from the detention and/or confinement of the respondents and restoring his right to human dignity and personal liberty.
He also challenged the respondents for harassing him and violating his rights.
Justice Chikere, who struck out the name of the Attorney General from the suit, also restrained the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents from further harassing him.
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