A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has slammed N900 Million in damages against former governor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasiru Elrufai and Five others on charges of violations of multiple Fundamental Human Rights and arbitrary imprisonment of Adara Elders in Kaduna state, Nigeria .
Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court, on Tuesday 27 May, 2025, delivered judgement in the case which had Mr. Awemi Dio Maisamari and 8 other Southern Kaduna Adara elders as victims of the illegal detention in 2019.
The Judge had earlier in the proceedings ruled against the preliminary objections filled by the Respondents challenging the jurisdiction of the Court, on the claims that the Federal High Court was not the right venue, the time of setting down the case for hearing exceeded seven days and that the wrongful imprisonment was in Tort and not Fundamental Human Rights. The Court found no merits in the Preliminary Objection and proceeded to deliver its judgment.
The Judge granted an order of compensation in the sum of N 900 million against Nasir Ahmad El-rufai for arbitrary arrest which he personally orchestrated. N10 million was awarded in general damages and another sum of 10 million in special damages were awarded against the 3rd-5th Respondents who are the Nigerian Police Force, the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police of Kaduna State.
In an interview, counsel to the Applicant, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason Esq who led S.A. Alkali Esq and J.N. Buzun Esq described the judgement as a landmark achievement against abuse of fundamental Human Rights and abuse of power by the former governor Mallam Nasiru Elrufai stating that the 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.
She contended that the case was filed after Mallam Nasiru Elrufai had left government, which explains why he was sued in personal capacity as the first respondent stating that even when people in authority enjoy immunity, it does not warrant executive lawlessness.
The 2nd and 6th Respondents were represented by J.A. Danazumi Esq, Solicitor General and Koni Tauna Esq while Sirajo Mohammed Esq represented the 3rd, 4th and 5th Respondents. The Respondent Counsel declined to give comments.
The Applicant , Mr Awemi Dio Maisamari, who was at the time of his arrest the national President of the Adara Development Association, was arbitrarily arrested during a town hall meeting following the questionable and curious circumstances of the murder of the paramount ruler Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima who was kidnapped and murdered while returning from a meeting with Governor El-rufai.
The first Respondent, Nasir Ahmad Elrufai who was Governor of Kaduna state at the time and had convened the town hall meeting, personally ordered the Police to arrest Mr. Awemi Maisamari after labelling him as ‘part of the security problem’ in Kajuru.
The second to sixth respondents were the Governor of Kaduna State, the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General of Kaduna State respectively.
Maisamari who was arrested and detained along with eight other Adara elders including a former Commissioner Engr. Bawa Magaji and a former Commissioner of Police, were later released after months in detention on the advice of the Attorney General who found nothing incriminating against them.
When contacted for their reaction on the judgement, Counsel to the respondents Barrister J. A. Danazumi who is the solicitor General declined comment.
