By Deborah Hassan
365Daily– An Abuja High Court has declared the banishment of the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, from Kano State unlawful and unconstitutional.
It also slammed N10 milion damages against the Kano State Government, the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services.
Sanusi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, was ejected from the Emir of Kano Palace in March 2020 after his dethronement by the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.
He was thereafter forcefully relocated to Awe in Nasarawa State by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force.
Delivering her judgment on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, Justice Anwuli Chikere declared that Sanusi’s forceful removal on the order of the Kano State government against his will was a violation of his rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.
She also proclaimed the Emirate Council Law 2019 under which the Kano State government acted a nullity, arguing that as a citizen of Nigeria who has committed no offence, Sanusi was entitled to reside in any part of the country of his choice.
The Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services, including addition to the N10m fine, were also ordered them to tender a public apology to the former Emir in at least two national dailies.