A Kaduna High Court has voided the banishment of the paramount ruler of Piriga chiefdom in Lere local government area of the state, Jonathan Zamuna.
ASHENEWS recalls that the ruler was banished by the administration of former governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Justice Nasiru U. Sadiq of the High Court sitting in Kafanchan, on Thursday, held that the banishing order ran contrary to section 41, subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
According to him, the constitution preserves every citizen of Nigeria, the entitlement to move freely throughout the country 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.
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, retired Brigadier General Iliya Yammah.
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.
While reacting to the court ruling, the Lead Counsel to Chief Zamuna, Barrister Napoleon 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.
