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Kano Emirate Tussle: Court Proceedings Today |
Today, a Federal High Court in Kano State, presided over by Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, will hear arguments regarding the emirship dispute in Kano Emirate.
Last week, the court issued an interim injunction preventing the Inspector General of Police, the Kano State Commissioner of Police (CP), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) from enforcing the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law.
This order was granted following an ex parte motion by Aminu Babba Danagundi, who holds the title of Sarkin Dawaki Babba. The suit involves the Kano State Government, the Kano State House of Assembly, the assembly's speaker, the IGP, the CP, the NSCDC, and the DSS as defendants.
As a result of this order, the deposed Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, returned to Kano on Saturday and has been presiding over court proceedings at the Nasarawa mini palace, which is under the protection of military personnel, police, NSCDC, and DSS operatives.
The state's Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, accused the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, of orchestrating Bayero's return, but Ribadu denied this. Abdulsalam later apologized, stating that he was misled.
Meanwhile, the reinstated Emir, Muhammad Sanusi, was escorted to the Gidan Rumfa palace by the deputy governor and other senior government officials. Since then, Sanusi has received homage from 40 district heads who pledged their allegiance to him.
The interim order specifies: "Parties are hereby ordered to maintain the status quo ante pending the hearing of the fundamental rights application."
Additionally, the court directed that: "Given the constitutional and jurisdictional issues apparent in the application, parties shall address the court on the same day during the hearing of the fundamental rights application scheduled for June 3."
This interim order was granted after hearing Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa, counsel for Aminu Babba Danagundi, supported by an affidavit sworn by Halima Abdulganiyu. Danagundi sought an interim injunction suspending the implementation of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024 as it pertains to the emirate council established by the 2019 law.
