Kaduna Court Orders El-Rufai To Pay ₦900 Million For Unlawful Detention Of Adara Elders.
A Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to pay ₦900 million in damages for the unlawful arrest and detention of nine Adara community elders in 2019. The judgement, delivered on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari, also imposed ₦20 million in fines on the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, for violating the fundamental human rights of the elders.
The case was brought by Awemi Dio Maisamari, former President of the Adara Development Association (ADA), alongside eight other elders from the Southern Kaduna community, including a former commissioner, Engr. Bawa Magaji, and a retired police commissioner. The court found that El-Rufai, sued in his personal capacity, had orchestrated the arbitrary arrests during a town hall meeting in February 2019, following the murder of the Adara traditional ruler, Dr Raphael Maiwada Galadima. The elders were detained for several months, accused of being security threats in Kajuru Local Government Area, where banditry had plagued communities. They were later released after the Kaduna State Attorney General found no evidence to justify their continued detention.
Justice Buhari dismissed preliminary objections from the respondents, who argued that the court lacked jurisdiction and that the case was a matter of tort rather than human rights violations. The judge ruled that El-Rufai’s actions constituted a clear breach of the elders’ constitutional rights, holding him personally liable for the ₦900 million compensation. Additionally, the Nigeria Police Force and its senior officials were ordered to pay ₦10 million in general damages and ₦10 million in special damages to the plaintiffs.
Gloria Mabeiam Ballason, counsel to the applicants, hailed the verdict as a “watershed moment” in the fight against abuse of power. “This judgement sends a clear message that no one, regardless of their position or immunity, is above the law,” she said. “Executive lawlessness will not be tolerated, and this ruling affirms accountability for those who violate fundamental rights.” Ballason noted that the case was filed after El-Rufai’s tenure as governor ended, allowing him to be sued personally.
The arrests stemmed from a tense period in Kajuru, marked by violence and the controversial killing of the Adara monarch. During the town hall meeting, El-Rufai reportedly labelled Maisamari a security threat and ordered his arrest, along with other prominent Adara leaders. The prolonged detention without trial sparked outrage among the Adara community, who viewed it as an attempt to suppress their leadership amid ongoing regional tensions.
This ruling has been widely celebrated as a victory for justice and accountability in Nigeria. It also underscores the judiciary’s role in addressing human rights violations, particularly in cases involving powerful public figures. The Adara elders, who endured months of unlawful imprisonment, expressed relief at the court’s decision, with Maisamari stating that the judgement restores hope for communities facing similar injustices.
The respondents, including El-Rufai, have not yet commented on the ruling, and their legal team declined to provide statements when contacted. As the case concludes, it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of upholding fundamental human rights and the rule of law, even in the face of political authority.