- Eminent Lawyers head to Court As Falana describes action as gross illegality, ...
“Today, the almighty Allah, who gave me the leadership has destined to take it back,” were the parting words of the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, minutes before being whisked out of the palace to embark on his asylum journey to Loko, Nasarawa State.
“With almost six years on this throne and (in charge of) our heritage. Today, the almighty Allah, who gave me the leadership has destined to take it back,” Sanusi said, in a recorded video published online.
“As I always say, leadership has predetermined tenure, the days Allah destined are numbered. When the days come to an end one must leave.
“We have accepted whatever Allah decides. We have agreed. We appreciate (God). We are happy and we know it is what is best for us.
“We enjoin everyone to remain peaceful. We have directed our family, our children and those that support us that whoever gets it and is endorsed by the people they should pay allegiance to him.
“They should follow him (the new emir). They should guard his honour and dignity because that is also the honour and dignity of this palace.”
“It is a thing of pride that made us to rule and end in the same fashion as Halifa,” he said using his grandfather’s sobriquet.
Sanusi’s grandfather was also deposed 57 years ago.
Meanwhile, the dethroned Emir has arrived Nasarawa State where he has been sent on exile.
Sanusi was sacked by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Monday after falling prey to political intrigues.
The former Emir was said to have arrived in Loko Development Area in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state at about 2:30am on Tuesday.
This followed Sanusi’s departure from the Aminu International Airport, hours after the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Usman Alhaji, announced that he had been removed as the Emir of Kano.
Speaking on how sending Emir on exile works in northern tradition, Director General, Media and Communications, Kano State government, Salihu Yakasai via his official Twitter handle: @Dawisu, faulted some sympathy comments, advising Sanusi to jostle for Presidential seat in 2023.
“Clearly, some people are ignorant of how dethronement works. When an Emir is dethroned, he is sent to exile in a remote location and will basically be under house arrest and won’t have access to visitors. A person under this circumstance will be after his freedom and not the next election,” he tweeted.
ALSO READ: Breaking: Sanusi’s Exile Location Changed In Nasarawa
In swift reaction, some eminent lawyers including radical Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, are challenging the legality of the dethronement, and indeed the banishment as an outdated illegality and a gross violation of the Nigerian constitution. Some of the lawyers told the The New Diplomat that Governor Ganduje’s action is like a throw back to the military era, a sad and illegal development that should be thrown into the trash can of history immediately.
According to the lawyers the action is like a throw back to the dark days of military era. This according to them have no place in a democracy. ” Only illiterates can make such ridiculous statements about banishment. we are not in a military era. It is total illegality.”
Falana also added that the action amounts to a gross violation of the fundamental human rights of Sanusi. He said: “The fundamental rights of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed by section 35 and 41 of the Constitution of teh Federal Republic of Nigeria 199 as amended and article 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) have been violated.”
