Sanusi defeat SSS and presidency, get a whooping #50m

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on
Thursday awarded N50million damages to
suspended and attacked Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,
for the violation of his rights by FG.
In his ruling, Justice Ibrahim Buba stated that
his arrest and detention as well as the seizure
of his international passport by security
agencies acting for the Federal Government
violated his right. The judge has consequently
ordered the State Security Service (SSS) and
the police to release Sanusi’s passport
immediately.
Justice Buba dismissed allegation of terrorism
financing as basis for arresting Sanusi and
seizing his passport. He described the "fake"
allegation as an afterthought.
The judge said: “An order is made restraining
the respondents, their agents, privies,
representatives or other law enforcement
agencies of the government of the federation
from further interference with or violation of
the applicant’s right to personal liberty,
freedom of movement and right to personal
liberty.”
Both respondents are to pay the N50million to
Sanusi as exemplary damages for unlawfully
detaining him and seizing his passport.
Apart from the damages, the judge also
ordered FG and SSS to “jointly and severally”
issue a public apology to Sanusi for the
“unlawful arrest, harassment, intimidation,
withdrawal and seizure of his passport.”
He ruled that they lack the power to withdraw
and seize Sanusi’s passport “for any reason”.
Anyway, the SSS has said it will appeal the
judgment immediately. Deputy Director Public
Affairs of the SSS, Ms Maryln Ogar said: “We
are going on appeal immediately”.