Rights Violations: Court Awards N900m Against El-Rufai

Elrufai

The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has awarded N900 million in damages against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and five others over the unlawful arrest and detention of Adara community elders in 2019.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Hauwa’u Buhari ruled in favour of Mr Awemi Dio Maisamari and eight other Southern Kaduna Adara elders, who were detained following the killing of their traditional ruler, Dr Raphael Maiwada Galadima.The court dismissed preliminary objections raised by the respondents, who argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction and that the case was based on tort rather than fundamental human rights violations. Justice Buhari found no merit in their arguments and proceeded to deliver a substantive ruling.El-Rufai, who was sued in his personal capacity, was found liable for ordering the arrests.Counsel to the applicants, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason Esq., who led a legal team including S. A. Alkali Esq. and J. N. Buzun Esq., described the ruling as a landmark victory against abuse of executive power. Daily Trust