Court fixes November 30 For Judgment Against Sanusi’s Ban In Nasarawa

Justice Anwuli Chikere of a Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 30 for judgment in a suit filed by the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi challenging his banishment to Awe, a remote community in Nasarawa State.

Recall that the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria was deposed after a resolution by the Kano State Executive Council on March 9, 2020.

He was subsequently banished to Awe, where he was confined until he was released on March 13, 2020 following an interim order for his release by the same court.

Justice Chikere, however, on Thursday fixed November 30 for judgment after taking final arguments from lawyers representing parties in the fundamental rights enforcement suit.

Sanusi’s lead counsel, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), in his final submission said. “This is not a chieftaincy matter. The applicant (Sanusi) is not challenging the respondents’ action as regards his removal as Emir of Kano, but the way he was bundled to Abuja and banished to a remote location.”

Mamoud faulted the respondents’ challenge to the Abuja court’s jurisdiction to hear the case, arguing that “no law support the position that where rights violation occurs across several jurisdictions, one cannot approach a court in any of the jurisdictions.”

He argued that his client’s rights were violated, and as such, he was entitled to seek protection from the court.

In his response, lawyer for the IGP, Victor Okoye faulted the competence of the suit and queried the jurisdiction of the court to hear it, saying the instrument conveying the ex-emir’s banishment was authored and endorsed by an official of the Kano State Government in Kano State.