A Kano State High Court, on Monday, granted a perpetual injunction restraining the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, and four other dethroned emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye from parading themselves as emirs.
The ruling came in response to a motion ex parte filed by the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly.
Represented by their counsel, Ibrahim Isah-Wangida Esq, the applicants sought a court order to restrain the former emirs.
The respondents in the case 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).
The case also involved the Inspector General of Police, the Director of State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Army.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, delivering the judgment, stated that the Kano State House of Assembly has the authority to amend and propose bills for the peace and good governance of the state under Section 4 Rule 6,7(b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“The Kano State Governor has the right to assent to the proposed bill to law after being passed by the state assembly,” she affirmed.
The court also restrained the Police and other security agencies from violating, disobeying, or tampering with the Kano State Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024.
Furthermore, the deposed emirs were ordered 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, calling it unprofessional. She ruled that the respondents’ motion, having been abandoned, was as good as not filing it.
The judge further noted that the actions of the 6th to 9th respondents, who allegedly smuggled the first respondent into Kano after the enactment of the Emirate Repeal Law 2024, were in violation of their oath to protect life and property.
Counsel to the applicants, Mr. Ibrahim Isa-Wangida, urged the court to discount the respondent’s affidavit of facts under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2 of the Court.
Mr. Abdul Muhammed SAN, counsel to Ado-Bayero, informed the court of an affidavit of fact dated July 3, 2024, along with a notice of appeal and a motion to stay proceedings pending the hearing and determination at the appeal court.
Counsel to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents, Hassan Tanko-Kyaure, moved his application for an extension of time and a counter affidavit in response to the originating motion.
He urged the court to set aside the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, citing procedural deficiencies, and requested the dismissal of the applicant’s application with a cost of N1 billion.
Counsel to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ekwe, stated he had nothing to present.
The applicants, along with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents, moved their applications, including an extension of time, notice of preliminary objection, setting aside the ex parte order, joinder application, examining the deponent, application for the judge to recuse herself, and the originating summons.
