Court orders Police to release deposed former Emir from confinement

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the release of the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, from the post-dethronement detention and confinement the state government had imposed, pending the determination of the case.

Penpushing reports that, the suit, filed on Thursday by Sanusi’s lawyer , was brought pursuant to section 34, 35, 40, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution and Order 4 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court,asking for an interim order of the Court releasing the Applicant from the detention and/or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, [apart from Kano State] pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s Originating Motion.”

The former Emir also urged the court to make, an order granting leave to him to effect service of this order alongside the originating motion and subsequent processes  on all the respondents.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; the Director-General of the State Security Services(SSS), Yusuf Bichi; Attorney General of Kano State and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; are the first, second, third and fourth respondents respectively.

Penpushing further reports that, premised on eight grounds, the suit emphasized that, “applicant’s fundamental right to life, human dignity, personal liberty and movement are seriously under challenge and continually being breached by the respondents.”

The team of lawyers led by Lateef Fagbemi, at the commencement of the case  prayed  the court to grant their request,  pointing out that  the health of the applicant is a subject of concern, adding that, “before the pronouncement of the Kano State Government deposing the applicant, the palace of the applicant was already evaded by the first and second respondents.”

Penpushing also reports that, Fagbemi told the court that there is no criminal proceeding pending against the applicant and “the applicant has offered not to go to Kano until the determination of the origination sermon.”

However, it is recalled that, Sanusi, a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) was deposed as Emir following a resolution of the Kano State Executive Council on March 9, on allegations of insubordination, and  was subsequently taken to Awe in Nasarawa State and has been detained in an apartment in the town.

Penpushing reports that, the judge, Justice  Anwuli Chikere, in his ruling on the application on Friday  granted the prayers one and two respectively, and  further held that the respondent are to be served the originating summon within five-days and the respondents to reply within five-days.

The judge adjourned to March 26, while in  court to witness the day’s proceedings was the sacked Emir’s sister, Zainab Sanusi, and his daughter, Khadija Sanusi.

Many Nigerian lawyers have condemned the dethronement and banishment of the emir