Emirship Dispute: Court Permanently Barns Ado-Bayero and 4 Others from Acting as Emirs

On Monday, a Kano State High Court issued a perpetual injunction preventing the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, and four other dethroned emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye from acting as emirs.

The motion, filed on May 27 by the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly, through their counsel Ibrahim Isah-Wangida, sought to restrain the aforementioned emirs from parading themselves as such.

The respondents included Ado-Bayero, Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero (Emir of Bichi), Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar II (Emir of Karaye), Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa (Emir of Rano), and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya (Emir of Gaya). Additionally, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army were named.

Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu ruled that the Kano State House of Assembly has the authority to amend and propose bills for the state’s peace and good governance under section 4, rule 6,7(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. She stated, “The Kano State Governor has the right to assent to the proposed bill into law after being passed by the state assembly.”

The court also ordered the Police and other security agencies not to violate, disobey, or tamper with the Kano State Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024. Furthermore, the deposed emirs were instructed to surrender all movable and immovable properties belonging to the Kano State Emirate Council to the state government.

Justice Adamu-Aliyu criticized the first respondent’s legal counsel for withdrawing without notice to other parties, deeming the motion as abandoned. She also condemned the actions of the 6th to 9th respondents for smuggling the first respondent to Kano after the enactment of the Emirate Repeal Law 2024, stating it undermined their sworn duty to protect life and property.

Earlier, Mr. Ibrahim Isa-Wangida, counsel to the applicants, urged the court to disregard the respondent’s affidavit of facts. Counsel to Ado-Bayero, Mr. Abdul Muhammed SAN, requested a stay of proceedings pending the appeal court’s decision. However, Ado-Bayero’s counsel withdrew their services on July 4.

Mr. Hassan Tanko-Kyaure, representing the 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents, argued for an extension of time and the dismissal of the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, citing procedural flaws. Counsel to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ekwe, had no presentation.

NAN reports that the applicants and respondents moved various applications, including extensions of time, preliminary objections, and requests for the judge to recuse herself. On May 23, the Kano State House of Assembly dissolved all four newly created Emirate councils, and Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.