Femi Falana charges Buhari to order release of ex-Emir Sanusi

Nigeria lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, has charged the President. Major General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd) to order the release of the former Emir of Kano, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The former Emir was dethroned recently by the Kano State government for alleged insubordination and was banished from the state.

Falana, who is also a human rights activist, has urged the Buhari-led federal government to release Sanusi from the "illegal detention" by the members of the state security service - SSS.

Sanusi was said to have been appreheneded by the SSS on "orders of the Kano State Government."

Falana, in a statement, condemned the "Pontius Pilate" act of the FG in the matter, urging them to act swiftly by doing what is right; ordering Sanusi's release.

The Nigerian lawyer said:

"Following the dethronement of Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano he was flown to Lafia, Nasarawa State yesterday by a combined team of the police and the state security service on the orders of the Kano State Government.


"Based on the illegality of the banishment and detention of Mr. Sanusi in Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State Government has attempted to wash off his hands like Pontius Pilate.

"However, the members of the Nasarawa State Council of Traditional Rulers deserve commendation for protesting the degrading and humiliating treatment meted out to Mr. Sanusi in his detention centre at Loko.

"We are not unaware that the Presidency has distanced itself from the serial infringements of the fundamental rights of Mr. Sanusi.

"But the Presidency must go beyond distancing itself from such violations. With the denial of the Kano State Government in the banishment and detention of Mr. Sanusi in Nasarawa State President Buhari should order his release without any further delay.