A high-stakes legal battle over the Kano Emirship continues to unfold as the Kano State High Court adjourned the hearing of a critical application to July 4. The case centers around the ongoing conflict between Emirs Sanusi II and the dethroned Aminu Ado-Bayero, along with other traditional rulers.
On May 27, the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly, represented by their counsel, Ibrahim Isah-Wangida, filed a motion seeking to restrain Aminu Ado-Bayero and four other dethroned emirs from acting as traditional rulers.
The respondents in the case include Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero (Bichi Emir), 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 the State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Army are involved in the proceedings.
During the latest court session, counsel for the applicants, Mr. Eyitayo Fatogun SAN, informed the court that he received five processes from the first respondent on July 1 at approximately 6:30 p.m. “My Lord, we received the respondent five processes yesterday evening, and we have filed all our responses. We urge the court to give us 30 minutes to stand down to enable us to serve the respondent with our responses,” said Fatogun.
However, counsel for Ado-Bayero, Mr. Abdul Muhammed SAN, opposed the 30-minute standdown and sought an adjournment to respond adequately and file all necessary applications. Consequently, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu postponed the matter to July 4 for a hearing on all pending applications and originating motions.
This legal wrangle follows the May 23 dissolution of all four newly created Emirate councils in Kano by the Kano State House of Assembly, and the subsequent reappointment of Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano by Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf.
An interim injunction granted by the court on May 27 had already restrained the respondents from presenting themselves as Emirs to maintain peace in the region.