A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Kaduna has awarded N900 million in damages against former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and five others for violating the fundamental human rights of Adara elders illegally detained in 2019.
Justice Hauwa’u Buhari delivered the ruling on Tuesday in a suit filed by Awemi Dio Maisamari and eight other Southern Kaduna Adara elders.
The court ruled that El-Rufai personally orchestrated their arbitrary arrest, and is therefore liable for the N900 million compensation.
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.
Reacting to the ruling, counsel to the applicants, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, hailed the verdict as a milestone in the fight against 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.