Following their October 30 rapprochement, which brought to an end almost one year of acrimonious relationship between them, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Department of State Security Services, SSS, to return the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II’s travelling documents seized from him on May 3 by the agency.
The SSS, had at the height of the Emir’s disagreement with President Jonathan, confiscated his traveling documents as he made to board the May 3 11: 10p.m. Turkish Airlines flight to Turkey where he would have connected another flight to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj.
The agency’s action was in violation of the April 3 judgment of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which restrained it, the Nigeria Police and other agents of the federal government from arresting or harassing the then CBN Governor or seizing his passport.
Confirming the development in a chat with journalists yesterday in Kano, The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on Chieftaincy and Emirate Council Affairs, Tijjani Mailafiya, said the SSS returned Emir Sanusi’s passport through the director in charge of its Kano State Command, Bassey Itang.
Mr. Mailafiya commended the federal government for releasing the passport six months after it was seized at the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.
He said with his passport now in his possession, the Emir was now better placed to serve his people locally and internationally, when necessary.
