Reacting to the dethronement of former Kano Emir, Mohammed Sanusi, a senior lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) said the process was flawed.
POLITICS NIGERIA reported how Governor Abdullahi Ganduje deposed Sanusi and replaced him with Aminu Ado Bayero on Monday.
It should be noted that on several fora the former Central Bank Governor criticised the Kano state government and some of its policies. This formed the basis of the Ganduje-Sanusi feud.
This paper also reported how plans have been made to transfer the dethroned emir from Loko to Awe Local Government of Narasawa state, where there are better amenities.
Falana, who described the removal of Mr Sanusi illegal, made his stance known on Arise TV.
“At the said meeting the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was accused of having disrespected the Governor by not attending official meetings and displaying utter disdain for constituted authority. And without giving the Emir any opportunity to react to the allegations the executive council tried him, found him guilty and announced his removal from the throne.
“Apart from deposing the Emir without affording him the opportunity to defend himself Governor Ganduje was the accuser, the prosecutor, witness and judge at the inquisition which lasted for about 5 minutes.”
Nonetheless, Mr Falana, in his analysis, highlighted the violation of Sanusi’s rights under the constitution.
“At the end of the inquisition the accused was convicted and sentenced to dethronement. As if the reckless violations of the Emir’s right to fair hearing were not sufficient Governor Ganduje proceeded to order the indefinite restriction of the deposed Emir’s movement and indefinite detention at Loko, Nasarawa State.”
“Thus, the fundamental rights of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed by sections 35 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and article 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 have also been violated.”
