Nigeria – Court orders Kano government to pay $10 million for violating Bayero’s rights

The Federal High Court in Kano has ruled in favor of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, ordering the Kano State Government to pay him N10 million as compensation for violating his fundamental human rights. Justice Simon Amobeda delivered the judgment, criticizing Governor Abba Yusuf’s directive to arrest Bayero as unlawful, which led to his being placed under house arrest to avoid detention.

The matter stems from Bayero’s request to enforce its fundamental rights in line with the governor’s order, which involved a number of respondents including the Attorney General of the Federation and Kano State, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Kano, the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Navy. The court specifically restrained the second, third, fourth and fifth defendants from further violating Bayero’s rights by arrest, detention or harassment.

In his ruling, Justice Amobeda condemned the governor’s action as a gross violation of Bayero’s freedom and movement as defined in Art. 35 section 1 and art. 41 section 1 of the Nigerian constitution. The judgment highlighted the unlawful nature of the Arrest Directive, which severely limited Bayero’s ability to conduct its lawful activities.

The court ordered the Kano State government and the Attorney General to compensate Bayero with the sum of N10 million for violating his rights. However, the application for additional costs relating to the claim was dismissed due to insufficient pleadings and strict evidence.