A Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and five others to pay N900 million in damages for the unlawful detention of Adara community elders in 2019.
Justice Hauwa’u Buhari delivered the ruling on Tuesday in a case brought by Awemi Dio Maisamari and eight other elders from Southern Kaduna.
The court found that El-Rufai was directly responsible for their arrest and detention, holding him personally liable for the compensation.
In addition to the N900 million awarded against El-Rufai and the other respondents, the court also ordered the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police to pay N10 million in general damages and another N10 million in special damages.
The applicants were arrested following the killing of Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima, the traditional ruler of the Adara people. El-Rufai allegedly ordered their arrest, claiming they posed a threat to security in Kajuru. Among those detained were former commissioner Bawa Magaji and a retired police commissioner.
They were later released after the Attorney General concluded there was no evidence against them.
The case was filed after El-Rufai left office, naming him as the first respondent in his personal capacity.
Reacting to the judgment, the applicants’ lawyer, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, described the ruling as a landmark victory for human rights and accountability.
“This judgment is a significant step toward holding public officials accountable, regardless of any temporary immunity they may enjoy. Immunity is not a license for executive lawlessness,” she said.
Efforts to get a comment from the respondents’ counsel, J.A. Danazumi, who is also the Solicitor General, were unsuccessful.