A Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and five others to pay N900 million in damages for the unlawful detention of Adara elders in 2019, ruling that their fundamental human rights were violated.
Justice Hauwa’u Buhari delivered the judgment on Tuesday in response to a suit filed by Awemi Dio Maisamari and eight other Adara elders from Southern Kaduna.
The court found El-Rufai directly responsible for orchestrating their arbitrary arrest and held him liable for the N900 million compensation.
Additionally, the court awarded N10 million in general damages and another N10 million in special damages against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police.
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Reacting to the judgment, the applicants’ lawyer, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, praised the decision as a significant step in challenging the misuse of power.
“This judgment marks a watershed against abuse of power and accountability for abuse, whether the occupiers of the office are temporarily shielded by immunity or not.
“Even when people in authority enjoy immunity, it does not warrant executive lawlessness,” Ballason said.
The lawsuit, filed after Nasir El-Rufai left office, listed him as the first respondent in his personal capacity.
The applicants were detained in 2019 following the killing of Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima, the traditional ruler of the Adara people.
At the time, El-Rufai allegedly ordered the arrest of Awemi Dio Maisamari and others, branding them as security threats in the Kajuru area.
Among those detained were former commissioner Bawa Magaji and a former police commissioner.
They were eventually released after the Attorney General determined there was no evidence to support the charges against them.
J.A. Danazumi, the respondents’ lawyer and current Solicitor General, declined to offer any comment when reached.
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