A Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to pay N900 million as compensation to some Adara elders who were unlawfully detained in 2019.
The judgment was delivered on Tuesday, May 27, by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari.
According to the PUNCH, the court ruled that El-Rufai personally arranged for the arrest and detention of the elders, and therefore must pay damages.
The case was filed by Awemi Dio Maisamari and eight other elders from the Southern Kaduna Adara community. They were arrested after the killing of their traditional leader, Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima, in 2019.
According to the court, El-Rufai, in his personal capacity, violated the fundamental human rights of the elders.
In addition to the N900 million, the court also awarded N10 million in general damages and N10 million in special damages against the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police.
The applicants’ lawyer, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, praised the judgment, calling it a major step towards justice and accountability.
She said, “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.”
Those arrested in 2019 included Maisamari, a former commissioner Bawa Magaji, and a former police commissioner. They were detained after El-Rufai claimed they were threats to peace in Kajuru. However, they were later released after the Attorney General found no evidence against them.
When contacted, J.A. Danazumi, who represented the respondents in court and also serves as the Solicitor General, refused to comment on the ruling.
