A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has delivered judgment awarding ₦900 million in compensation against former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and five other individuals over the wrongful incarceration of several elders from the Adara community in Kajuru Local Government Area in 2019.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari, was in favor of a group of nine elders, including Awemi Dio Maisamari, who filed the suit over what they described as an unjustified and illegal detention connected to the killing of their monarch, Raphael Maiwada Galadima.
El-Rufai, who was named as a defendant in his individual capacity, was found responsible for ordering the arrest and subsequent detention of the community leaders without due legal process.
In the course of proceedings, the defendants argued that the Federal High Court lacked the legal authority to preside over the case and maintained that the matter should be treated under tort law rather than as a breach of fundamental human rights. However, these preliminary objections were dismissed by the court, which ruled that it had proper jurisdiction and affirmed the matter involved core human rights concerns.
Following the judgment, legal representative for the plaintiffs, Gloria Ballason, welcomed the decision, calling it a significant development in holding public officials accountable for actions taken while in power.
In her words, “This judgment is a watershed moment in the fight against executive lawlessness and human rights violations. It reaffirms that public office holders can be held accountable even after leaving office.”
The case stemmed from a meeting in 2019, which El-Rufai convened with members of the Adara community after the abduction and eventual murder of their traditional ruler.
During the meeting, the elders—among them a retired police officer and a former state commissioner—were taken into custody and held for several months. Their release was eventually secured after the Kaduna State Attorney General reviewed the case and found no legal justification for their continued detention.
What you should know
A Kaduna Federal High Court has held former Governor Nasir El-Rufai liable for ordering the unlawful detention of nine Adara elders, awarding ₦900 million in damages.
The ruling affirms that public office holders can be held responsible for violating citizens’ rights even after leaving office.
