Deposed Sultan Dasuki exonerated 30 years after
The government of Sokoto State has officially issued a white paper exonerating the late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki from the allegations that led to his deposition in 1996 under the military government of General Sani Abacha.
This decision, based on a thorough investigation conducted by a committee led by the late Muhammadu Jega, former Secretary to the Military Government and Head of Service, marks a significant turning point in the case that has overshadowed the late Sultan’s legacy for almost three decades.
The committee examined the circumstances surrounding the government’s actions against the late Sultan and concluded that there was no evidence to support the alleged wrongdoing that justified his deposition. The committee’s findings also highlighted the violation of the Sultan’s right to a fair defence as prescribed by the law.
In a joint statement, the State Commissioner for Information, Akibu Dalhatu, and the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Suleiman Usman SAN, announced that the white paper adopted the committee’s recommendation.
“The white paper upholds the committee’s recommendation to officially exonerate the Late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki of any wrongdoing, clearing his name for posterity. It also ensures that he receives all entitlements for the years he served as Sultan of Sokoto, by the relevant laws governing such entitlements,” they stated.
In 1996, Dasuki was called into the office of the military administrator of Sokoto, Yakubu Muazu and was told he was deposed as the Sultan.
He was flown to Adamawa and then taken to Taraba where he was placed in exile.
Muazu gave some reasons for the banishment such as Dasuki being too modern and independent-minded, ignoring government directives and travelling outside his domain without approval or notice from the government.
However, some believe he was deposed because of personal issues between him and General Sani Abacha.
Sultan Dasuki, who served as the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, passed away in November 2016 at the age of 92.
