The Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu has advicsed a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to dismiss the suit filed by the dethroned, former Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi against his banishment and subsequent confinement to Awe, a rustic community in Nasarawa State.
It could be recalled that Sanusi was deposed on March 9, 2020 and moved to Awe, a community in Nasarawa state. However, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020, the former emir of Kano seek to challenge his banishment which according to him violated his fundamental rights.
The court granted him a temporary reprieve on March 13 when Justice Anwuli Chikere made an interim order for his release pending determination of the substantive suit.
The IGP, in a notice of preliminary objection, urged the court to decline jurisdiction on the grounds the alleged rights violation took place in Kano and what led to his banishment was his dethronement.
The IGP added that the basis of Sanusi’s application is his removal as the Emir of Kano, which is a chieftaincy matter within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the state and not the Federal High Court.
Sanusi, in a counter-affidavit, faulted the IGP’s contention and insisted it was not about his dethronement but also the subsequent forceful ejection of his family and himself from the palace, their confinement to Awe and banishment from Kano.
He argued the infringement of his fundamental rights was not limited to Kano but a continuous process that spanned three territories – Kano, Abuja and Nasarawa.
Sanusi added his suit is lawfully before the court and urged it to discountenance the IGP’s argument and assume jurisdiction.
At the mention of the case on July 22, 2020 lawyers to parties, including Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) for Sanusi; Maimunat Lami-Shiru for the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Victor Okoye, for the IGP, regularised their processes.
Justice Chikere then adjourned till October 20, 2020 for hearing.
