The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called for the immediate release of dethroned Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from detention.
Sanusi who was dethroned on Monday by Governor Umar Ganduje-led administration was banished to Awe village in Nasarawa State where he will not be allowed to have visitors until further notice.
But SERAP in a statement on its official Twitter page called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led government and Ganduje to immediately release Sanusi, describing his detention as ‘travesty’.
The rights group added that the continued detention and the treatment meted on Sanusi was against freedom of liberty and movement according to Nigerian constitution.
The statement reads: “The indefinite detention and degrading treatment of Muhammad Sanusi II is a travesty. He should never have been detained in the first place.
“Nigerian government and Kano state authorities must end this blatant miscarriage of justice now. Release Muhammad Sanusi II from arbitrary detention.”
SERAP noted that the deposed emir is an anti corruption defender, hence reason for its demand for his release.
“The dethroned Emir of Kano and Muhammad Sanusi II is an anti-corruption and human rights defender within the international standards established by the UN to which Nigeria is a member.
“That’s why we’re pushing to enforce his fundamental rights including to liberty,” the statement added.
