Kano AG: We didn’t infringe on Bayero’s rights — he flouted instructions

Haruna Dederi, Kano attorney-general and commissioner of justice, has faulted the recent court ruling asking the government to pay damages to Aminu Ado Bayero, the deposed emir of the state, over breach of his fundamental rights.

Dederi spoke on Saturday while briefing journalists on recent developments in the state.

Speaking on the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi as emir of Kano, Dederi said the move was necessitated by the need to correct the wrongs committed against the people of the state.

“In our view, no fundamental rights of Bayero were infringed upon,” Dederi said.

“No one forced him into Gidan Nasarawa, belonging to the state government.

“He went in there and stayed on his own volition, accompanied by security guards. No one put him under house arrest.

“The state governor has the constitutional duty to ensure the protection of lives and properties.

“When Bayero came in, accompanied by hoodlums, he (governor), had a duty to act, that was why he issued an arrest order.

“Even then, the arrest was never effected by the security agencies.”

Dederi said Bayero was staying in Nasarawa “against the instruction of the state government”.

“So, any claim of the breach of the fundamental human rights of Bayero cannot be made against the government of Kano state,” he said.

Dederi noted that Bayero was not the first emir to be deposed in the history of northern Nigeria, adding that if his rights were being infringed in any way, “it must be by those that smuggled him into the city and kept him in Nasarawa”.

The attorney-general also alleged that some enemies of the state are bent on causing a breakdown of law and order in Kano.

He said “agents of destruction and rejected politicians” were “desperately making plans to plunge the state into unnecessary and avoidable anarchy”.

He accused the state police command of trying to undermine the constitutional authority of the governor.

Dederi accused Usaini Gumel, commissioner of police, of “consistently disobeying the legitimate instructions of the governor as chief security officer”.

“Some people are dishing out instructions to security chiefs in the state so much that the state commissioner of police, without any consultation with the state chief officer, has issued an order banning Eid-el Kabir festivities in Kano state,” he said.

“Who is pushing the CP to usurp the authority of the governor?”

He expressed surprise that the governor only got to hear of the ban through social media.

He regretted that “surreptitious and clandestine” moves were being made to undermine the authority of the governor and take over the control of the state.

He called on all democrats in the country to prevail on those concerned to allow the people of Kano to live in peace.

“Any attempt by anybody to cause chaos in Kano is an assault on democracy,” he said.

‘I HAVE NOT DISRESPECTED THE GOVERNOR’

Reacting to the accusations, Gumel said he had never disrespected the governor.

The CP said the accusations were unfounded as he had never been disloyal to the state governor.

He expressed confidence that the public would vindicate him and justify his position in the Kano emirate saga.

“I mean well for Kano state and my actions speak louder than words,” he said.