Rights Violation: Court Grants N900 Million Compensation Against El-Rufai, Others
A Federal High Court in Kaduna has given former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and five other people ₦900 million in damages for their roles in the unlawful 2019 detention of Adara elders.
In the case, which was filed by Awemi Dio Maisamari and eight other Southern Kaduna Adara elders, Justice Hauwa’u Buhari rendered the decision on Tuesday.
El-Rufai is responsible for the ₦900 million settlement because the court found that he personally planned their arbitrary arrest.
The court further granted the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police of Kaduna State ₦10 million in general damages and ₦10 million in special damages in addition to the compensation.
Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, who represented the applicants, hailed the decision as a major win in the continuous fight against power abuse. She called the ruling historic and emphasized that it makes powerful people responsible, even when they are immune from prosecution.
ReadAlso: Peter Okoye Reflects on Fame: ‘We Asked for It, Now I Cover My Face Outside’
“This ruling is a landmark against power abuse and accountability for abuse, regardless of whether the office holders are temporarily protected by immunity or not,” Ballason said. Even when those in positions of power are immune, this does not justify executive lawlessness.
El-Rufai was designated as the first respondent in his own capacity, and the complaint was filed after his time as governor.
In 2019, the applicants were taken into custody after the assassination of Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima, the Adara people’s supreme leader.
According to reports, Maisamari and other community leaders were arrested at the time by El-Rufai, who had labeled them as security concerns in Kajuru. A former commissioner, Bawa Magaji, and a former police commissioner were among those arrested.
The Attorney General later discovered no evidence against the arrested persons, though, and they were released.
