The deposed emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi yesterday filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging his banishment and continued detention in Awe, Nasarawa State, by security agencies.
In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020, Sanusi named the inspector general of police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, director general of the DSS, Mr. Yusuf Bichi, attorney general and commissioner for Justice, Kano State, Mr. Ibrahim Muhtar and the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami as respondents.
Leading the ousted emir’s 12-man legal team is a senior lawyer, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi.
Others are Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi; a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Mahmoud; Adeniyi Akintola, the incumbent NBA President, Paul Usoro; Ifedayo Adedipe, Dr. Garba Tetengi, Suraj Sa’eda, Funke Aboyade, Nesser Dangiri, Ernest Ojukwu, and H.O. Afolabi.
In the suit, Sanusi prayed the court for an interim order to release “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 summons,” the prayer read in part.
Alleging a breach of their client’s rights provided under sections 34, 35, 40, 41 and 46 of the Nigerian Constitution, the applicant contended, “the applicant’s fundamental right to life, human dignity, personal liberty and movement are seriously under challenge and continually being breached by the respondents.”
He also sought an order granting him leave to effect service of the court order alongside the originating motion and subsequent processes on all the respondents, through substituted means, by allowing the processes to be delivered to any officer in the office of the respondents.
Specifically, Sanusi prayed for an order permitting him to deliver the processes meant for the inspector general of police to any officer in his office at the police headquarters at Louis Edet House, Garki, Abuja; the one for the director general of the DSS to any officer at the DSS headquarters at Aso Drive in Abuja; the one for the attorney general of Kano State to any officer at the state’s Ministry of Justice, Audu Bako Secretariat, Kano, and the one for the attorney general of the federation to any officer at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja.
Alternatively, the plaintiff sought for leave of the court to publish the processes in at least one national newspaper.
“Considering the status of the respondents, it would be difficult to effect personal service on the first, second and third respondents unless his application is granted.
“The respondents will have knowledge of the originating motion for the enforcement of the applicant’s fundamental right if they are served by substituted means, as stated on the motion paper.
“Applicant’s fundamental right to life, human dignity, personal liberty and movement are seriously under challenge and continually being breached by the respondents.
“Exceptional hardship shall be caused to the applicant before the service and hearing of the originating motion for the enforcement of his fundamental right.
“All the respondents would not be prejudiced if this application is granted and it is in the interest of justice to grant this application,” said the applicant.
