IGP faults ex-Emir Sanusi’s suit against banishment

The Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu has urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to reject the suit filed by deposed Emir of Kano Lamido Sanusi against his banishment and subsequent confinement to Awe, a rustic community in Nasarawa State.

Sanusi was on March 9, 2020 deposed and moved by security agents to Awe, an action he claimed violated his fundamental rights, which he is challenging in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020.

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 bass 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 s 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.