Adara Elders in Southern Kaduna have taken legal action against former Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, claiming violations of their fundamental human rights, unlawful imprisonment, and harassment.
In a case filed at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, the elders alleged that they were unjustly detained and later released by the administration of El-Rufai in 2019. The claimants, led by Aweni Dio Maisamari, the former Chairman of the Adara Development Association (ADA), are seeking 2.3 billion naira in damages for arbitrary arrests, general exemplary damages, and special damages related to the rights violations they endured.
The hearing took place on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Kaduna and was adjourned by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari to allow for proper service to the respondents, in accordance with Order 5 Rule 7 of the Fundamental Human Rights Act.
Plaintiff’s counsel, Gloria Ballason, stated that her client was unjustly imprisoned by the previous state administration for over three months in 2019 and was released without any charges filed against them.
“We are here for a case of unjust imprisonment of the Adara Elders, they were imprisoned in 2019 and they came to court to seek the enforcement of their fundamental rights.”
” Their Chief, Rafael Maiwada Galadima was killed in very questionable and curious circumstances about the same time this arrest occured under the administration of Mallam Nasiru Elrufai.”
” It so happened that my client standing here with me -Mr. Aweni Dio Maisamari had shown up at a meeting and wanted to enquire but was bundled up and taken to prison including 8 others. After more than 3 months, the court found nothing against them and the case was dismissed”.
Ballason said it was Mallam Elrufai who specifically directed that the President of the Adara Development Association, Mr. Aweni Dio Maisamari should be picked without investigation and reasonable suspicion of crime.
“The Nasiru Elrufai administration was well known to be that of a cocktail of rights violations including killings to wrongful imprisonments to attacks.”
“Restraining the respondent from illegal orders, and including the State and a perpetual injunction for 900 Million naira for arbitrary arrest, compensation of 100 million naira for general and exemplary damages, 500 million naira for other damages that were in court, and special damages in the sum of N800 Million given the quantum of rights that were violated”.
(Vanguard)
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