A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has ordered former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and five others to pay ₦900 million in compensation over the unlawful arrest and detention of nine Adara elders in 2019.
Delivering judgment, Justice Hauwa’u Evelyn Buhari ruled that El-Rufai personally ordered the arrest of the elders in the aftermath of the killing of their traditional ruler, Dr. Raphael Maiwada Galadima.
The court found that the elders were held for more than 30 days without trial, a clear violation of their fundamental human rights as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
The court also imposed a ₦10 million fine each on the Nigerian Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police for their involvement in the unlawful detention.
The detained elders, who included former state officials, a retired police officer, and respected community leaders, were arrested amid tensions following the monarch’s murder—an event that sparked unrest in the region.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, counsel to the elders, described the ruling as a landmark moment in the fight for justice and accountability.
“This verdict affirms the principle that no one is above the law—not even a sitting governor,” she stated.
“It is a step toward holding public officials accountable for human rights abuses and the misuse of power.”
The judgment has been widely applauded by civil rights advocates as a victory for the rule of law and a message against arbitrary detention by state actors.
