El Rufai Faces More Trouble as The Court Imposes a Fine of ₦900 Million on Him
The Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and five others to pay ₦900 million in damages for the unlawful arrest and detention of nine elders from the Adara community in 2019. Justice Hauwa’u Buhari ruled that El-Rufai was personally responsible for the arrests and extended detentions following the assassination of the traditional leader of the Adara Chiefdom, His Royal Highness Raphael Maiwada Galadima.
This case has garnered national attention for its significance regarding accountability in executive actions, arising from a series of arrests made during El-Rufai’s administration without formal charges or trials.
In October 2018, Galadima was kidnapped and subsequently killed, leading to heightened communal tensions in the Kajuru Local Government Area. Security forces soon arrested several key elders from the Adara community, including the chief plaintiff Awemi Dio Maisamari, who heads the Adara Development Association, holding them for months without formal charges.
The plaintiffs filed a suit for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights, claiming their arrests were politically motivated and violated constitutional rights to liberty and due process. They named El-Rufai in his personal capacity, along with other state actors they accused of complicity in the detentions.
Justice Buhari rejected preliminary objections from the defense, which argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction and that the issue was a matter of tort law rather than human rights. She affirmed that the detentions constituted a severe violation of the plaintiffs’ fundamental rights as defined in the amended 1999 Constitution.
The court ordered a joint payment of ₦900 million to the nine plaintiffs as damages, awarding each individual ₦100 million in compensatory and exemplary damages. In her ruling, Justice Buhari asserted that no public servant, regardless of their position, is above the law, stating, “This court will not tolerate arbitrary detention, particularly when it stems from misuse of executive power. Citizens should not be sacrificed for political gain.”
The lead counsel for the plaintiffs, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, described the ruling as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, emphasizing that it highlights accountability for public officials, regardless of their former positions. Civil society organizations and human rights advocates have also celebrated the decision as a landmark ruling.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) called the judgment a “resounding victory for democracy and the rule of law.” At the time of this report, the legal team for El-Rufai and the co-defendants had not released an official statement, although reports suggest they may contemplate an appeal.
Legal experts are considering this verdict one of the most impactful human rights decisions in recent years. The case has attracted significant attention not only for its legal ramifications but also because it involves a former governor recognized for his strong leadership style and controversial security measures during his governance. This ruling may establish a precedent for addressing human rights abuses by former officials and reflects an increasing judicial readiness to confront impunity and uphold constitutional rights, even amidst political sensitivities.
