Pay Sanusi N50 Million Damages, Court Tells FG

Former governor of the CBN, Sanusi has won N50 million Naira in damages following a Lagos High Court ruling.

The Federal Government has been ordered by a Lagos High Court to pay the sum of N50million to the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as "exemplary damages" for the illegal detention and seizure of his international passport.

Delivering the verdict, Justice Ibrahim Buba ordered the State Security Service and the police to instantly release his passport.

"An exemplary damages against the respondents jointly and severally is also awarded, in the sum of N50 million only.

"An order for immediate release to the applicant of his international passport forcefully withdrawn and seized on Feb. 20, is hereby made.

Justice Buba also held that the provisions of sections 251 of the Constitution vest jurisdiction of the FHC, to entertain matters touching on enforcement of fundamental human rights.

According to him, the applicant had brought the suit under the provisions of chapter 4 of the constitution seeking an enforcement of his rights, and so, is not a dispute relating to his terms of employment.

"The facts deposed in the applicant's originating summons and his affidavit, speaks for itself; it is a suit for enforcement of his fundamental right which is recognisable by the federal high court.

"The court allows any person who perceives that his rights are likely to be infringed on, to approach the court for redress" he said.

"This court has no doubt that the applicant has made out his case against the respondents."

Justice Buba also asked the defendants to tender an unreserved public apology to Sanusi for his unlawful arrest, harassment, intimidation and seizure of his passport.

"An order is also made, directing the respondent to make a public apology to the applicant for unlawful arrest, detention and harassment" Buba held.

"An order of this court is hereby made restraining the respondent, their agents, privies or any other law enforcement agency of the respondents, from further interfering, harassing or infringing on the personal liberty of the applicant.