Kaduna Court Awards N900 Million Against El-Rufai

A court of law based in Kaduna has issued a ruling awarding the sum of N900 million in compensation against former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, along with three other individuals, over the unlawful detention of nine elders from the Adara community back in 2019.

The decision, delivered on Tuesday in a legal challenge initiated by Awema Maisamari—one of those detained and also a former head of the Adara Development Association—addressed the violation of his basic rights. The judge in charge, Justice Hauwa’u Buhari, ruled that keeping Maisamari in custody for more than 40 days without presenting him in court was a breach of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

In addition, the court directed that the Inspector General of Police, the state police commissioner, and the national police authority—who were all named as respondents—must pay “N10m as general and special damages to the plaintiff.”

On February 16, 2019, while still holding the office of governor, El-Rufai instructed law enforcement officers to take Maisamari and eight other Adara leaders into custody. The group was accused of involvement in the unrest that had erupted in Kajuru Local Government Area, where armed attackers were wreaking havoc. The detained individuals remained in custody until March 30, 2019—held for a total of 43 days—without ever facing formal charges.

Sources confirmed that El-Rufai was notified of the case through an alternative method of service, but he made no move to defend himself, nor did any legal representative appear on his behalf throughout the legal proceedings.

Speaking after the court’s decision, the legal representative for Maisamari, Gloria Ballason, referred to the outcome as “a landmark achievement against abuse of fundamental human rights and abuse of power by the former governor.”

She further noted 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.”

According to Ballason, the legal action was initiated after El-Rufai had vacated office, “which explains why he was sued in personal capacity as the first respondent,” and emphasized that “even when people in authority enjoy immunity, it does not warrant executive lawlessness.”