Southern Kaduna Elders Sue El-Rufai, Demand ₦2.3 Billion

Nasir El-Rufai

Some Southern Kaduna Elders have filed a lawsuit against the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, for human rights violations.

They are also demanding a compensation of ₦2.3 billion.

Under the umbrella of Adara Development Association (ADA), the elders told the Federal High Court, Kaduna, that they were detained, unjustly imprisoned and later released by Nasir El-Rufai‘s administration in 2019.

The former Chairman of ADA, Aweni Dio Maisamari and the other claimants are demanding “₦2.3 billion naira in damages, ranging from arbitrary arrest, general exemplary damages and special damages, given the quantum of rights that were violated.”

The case came up at the Federal High Court, Kaduna on Tuesday and was adjourned by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari to give room for proper service to the respondents, in line with order 5 rule 7 of the Fundamental Human Rights Acts.

Counsel to the Plaintiffs, Gloria Ballason told Daily Post that her clients were unjustly imprisoned by the immediate past administration of the state for more than 3 months in 2019 and later released because nothing was found 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 occurred 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.

“The Nasiru Elrufai administration was well known to be that of a cocktail of rights violations including killings to wrongful imprisonments to attacks,” Ballason said.