The popular slang ‘wahala no de finish’ may just begin to make sense to Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate former governor of Kaduna State.

Indeed, the ace politician may have thought that he had left the exalted governor seat and all its troubles, unknown to him that what he did as far back as 2019 would come to hunt him in 2024.

As we speak, some Southern Kaduna Elders have dragged the Rufai to court for human rights violations.

The highlight of this whole drama is the ₦2.3 billion compensation these elders are demanding.

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 El-Rufai’s administration in 2019.

Meanwhile, the former Chairman of ADA, Aweni Dio Maisamari and the other claimants are demanding “₦2.3 billion naira in damages.

Damages

This will cover 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.

It was however 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.

According to Gloria Ballason, who is the counsel to the plaintiffs, her clients were unjustly imprisoned by El-Rufai for more than 3 months in 2019 and later released because nothing was found against them.

El-Rufai In The Mix

Her words: “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 El-rufai.

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“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.