On Thursday, a High Court in Kaduna State overturned former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s banishment order on the paramount ruler of Piriga Chiefdom in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Chief Jonathan Parguwa Zamuna.
Justice Nasiru U. Sadiq of the Kaduna High Court sitting in Kafanchan, while delivering judgement on the case of breach of fundamental rights, stated that the banishing order runs contrary to section 41, subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The Judge explained that the Constitution stated that every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and that no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.
Recall that the Court had three weeks ago nullified a similar restriction of movement order placed on the deposed traditional ruler of Arak Chiefdom in Sanga Local Government Area, Brigadier General Iliya Yammah (Rtd).
The immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, El-Rufai had on 22nd May, 2023, announced the deposition of the two paramount rulers, stating that the depositions followed recommendations from the Ministry of Local Government Affairs in line with the provisions of Section 11 of the Traditional Institutions Law No. 21 of 2021, which was signed in a statement by the then Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Hajiya Umma Ahmad.
While reacting to the court ruling, the Lead Counsel to Chief Zamuna, Barrister Napoleon O. Idenala expressed satisfaction with the judgement.
He lamented the magnitude of trauma the deposed chief suffered since the banishment order was placed on him, saying that the monarch lost his wife, brother and sister within four months.
