10th March, 2020
His Excellency
Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
Presidential Villa
Aso Rock Villa, Abuja
Dear Mr. President,
UNLAWFUL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL ARREST AND DETENTION OF FORMER EMIR OF KANO, SANUSI LAMIDO SANUSI
“Today as always, men fall into two groups: slaves and free men. Whoever does not have two-thirds of his day for himself, is a slave, whatever he may be: a statesman, a businessman, an official, or a scholar.” ― Friedrich Nietzsch
We write to inform you as a civil rights movement over the unlawful and unconstitutional arrest and detention of deposed former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. We are greatly concerned over his arbitrarily arrest and detention as this negates all constitutional provisions on the right to liberty, peaceful assembly and association, freedom of movement and freedom from discrimination.
The arrest and detention after dethronement carried out by the Kano State is illegal and unconstitutional and many citizens are already insinuating it has your consent and blessing as security agencies carried out the unlawful and unconstitutional act. It is important that you use your good office and position as Commander-in-Chief to put a stop to this.
Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has:
i. Right to personal liberty guaranteed under section 35 of the 1999 constitution as amended;
ii. Right to peaceful assembly and association with other Nigerians guaranteed under section 40;
iii. Right to freedom of movement guaranteed under section 41; and
iv. Right to freedom from discrimination guaranteed under section 42 of the same constitution.
Mr. President, you would recall that banishment and deportation of a deposed king has been declared severally by our courts to be unconstitutional. We refer you to the case of ‘Government of Kebbi State vs. HRH Mustapha Jokolo (2013)’ where the Court of Appeal condemned and declared that banishment and deportation of a deposed king is unconstitutional.
We believe that as in the case of Gwandu Emirate above, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been unduly and wrongfully denied his constitutional rights to liberty, to freely assemble and associate with other persons – including the people of Kano State and to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof.
Finally, we call on you to use your good office to immediately direct security agencies to respect his rights and release him accordingly. The world will be keenly watching Nigeria on this.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Yours faithfully,
Comrade Deji Adeyanju
Convener
CC: Attorney General of the Federation & Minister of Justice
Inspector-General of Police
Director General of SSS
Ambassador, United States Embassy, Abuja
High Commissioner, British Embassy, Abuja
Nigeria Bar Association
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