By Ango Don-Bally
The Nine Adara Elders from Southern Kaduna who were unjustly imprisoned and later released by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmed Elrufai led administration in 2019 have dragged the former governor to Court on charges of Fundamental Human Rights.
The claimants led by former National President of Adara Development Association (ADA) Mr. Awemi Dio Maisamari are demanding 2.3 Billion Naira damages ranging from arbitrary arrest, general exemplary damages that were in court and special damages given the quantum of rights that were violated.
This is coming three months after the National Industrial Court sitting in Kaduna, on June 10, 2024 nullified the dethronement of the paramount ruler of Piriga, His Royal Highness, Jonathan Paragua Zamuna, done by ex-governor el-Rufal few days to the expiration of his tenure as governor and also awarded N10 million damages against Kaduna state government for the violation of Chief Zamuna’s fundamental rights.
Meanwhile, in compliance with the court’s pronouncement, el-Rufai’s successor, Sen. Uba Sani on July 4 restored Chief Zamuna back to his throne as Chief of Piriga Chiefdom.
Also, this is coming barely three months after the Kaduna State House of Assembly Probe Panel indicted el-Rufai’s government for allegedly siphoning N423bn state funds through loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015 to 2023.
The case of Adara 9 which came up at the Federal High Court Kaduna on Tuesday, was however adjourned to 24th October, 2024 by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari of the Federal High Court Kaduna to give room for proper service to the respondents in line with order 5 rule 7 of the fundamental Human Rights Acts.
Speaking to newsmen after the adjournment, council to the Plaintiff, Barr. Gloria Ballason explained that her client were unjustly imprisoned by the immediate past administration of the state for more than 3 months in 2019 and later released having nothing found against them. adding that they came to court to seek for the enforcement of their fundamental rights.
“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 for the enforcement of their fundamental rights. Their Chief, Rafael Maiwada Galadima was killed in a 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 make an enquiry 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”
According to Barrister Gloria Ballason, it was Elrufai that specfically directed that the President of the Adara Development Association Mr. Awemi Dio Maisamari should be picked without investigation and without reasonable suspicion of crime straight to the prison.
The claimants in the case are claiming damages which include, restraining the respondent from illegal orders and that’s including the State and perpetual injunction in the sum of 900 million Naira for arbitrary arrest, compensation of 100 million Naira for general and and exemplary damages, 500 million Naira for other damages that were in court, and special damages in the sum of 800 million Naira given the quantum of rights that were violated.
Barrister Ballason explained further that among the 9 Adara Elders that were unjustly imprisoned are a former Commissioner of Police including the Waziri Adara who at the time was next to the Chief of Adara, late Rafael Maiwada Galadima who was murdered in questionable circumstances and then the lead claimant Mr. Awemi Dio Maisamari who at present occupies a senior ranking position in the Adara community.
“The Nasiru Elrufai administration was well known to be that of a cocktail of rights violations including killings to wrongful imprisonments to attacks,” she explained further.
END
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