The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared the seizure of the passport of suspended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as illegal. Sanusi had approached the court on the 21st of February asking it to restrain the Federal Government, the State Security Service and the police from detaining or harassing him.
In delivering his judgment on the rights enforcement suit instituted by Sanusi, Justice Ibrahim Buba dismissed the claims by the Counsel to the AGF that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
“The averment by respondent that the matter is labour related is far from the truth; the first respondent is trying to set up another case for the applicant; It is a case of “shifting the goal post” and making a case for the applicant.
“The facts deposed in the applicant’s originating summons and his affidavit, speaks for itself; it is a suit for enforcement of his fundamental right which is recognisable by the federal high court.
“The court allows any person who perceives that his rights are likely to be infringed on, to approach the court for redress,” the Presiding Judge said.
The court ruled in favour of the suspended Governor on his claim that the accusation of sponsoring terrorists was an afterthought. Justice Buba noted that “it is unlawful to arrest a person before looking for evidence.”
The court also awarded N50m to be paid by the government to Mr. Sanusi as exemplary damages for unlawfully detaining him and seizing his passport. Buba asked the Federal Government to tender an apology to the applicant but refrained from granting an order of perpetual injunction restraining the law enforcement agencies from arresting or harassing Mr. Sanusi.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Department of State Security Services has already disclosed that the service will appeal the court ruling.
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