A Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and five others to pay N900 million in damages for the illegal detention of Adara elders in 2019.
Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, Justice Hauwa’u Buhari held that El-Rufai personally orchestrated the arbitrary arrest of the elders, violating their fundamental human rights.
The case was filed by Awemi Dio Maisamari and eight other Adara leaders from Southern Kaduna, who were unlawfully detained under El-Rufai’s administration.
In addition to the N900 million compensation, the court also imposed 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** for their role in the arrests.
Reacting to the verdict, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, described the ruling as a landmark victory against impunity and abuse 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 case, filed after El-Rufai left office, named him as the first respondent in his personal capacity.
The applicants were arrested and detained in 2019 following the murder of Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima, the paramount ruler of the Adara people.
At the time, El-Rufai had reportedly ordered the arrest of Maisamari and others, labelling them as threats to security in Kajuru.
Those detained included a former commissioner, Bawa Magaji, and a former police commissioner.
They were later released after the Attorney General found no evidence against them.
Counsel to the respondents, J.A. Danazumi, who also serves as Solicitor General, declined to comment when contacted.
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