Court adjourns Kano Emirship dispute hearing

The Kano State High Court has postponed the hearing of the Kano Emirship dispute case until Thursday, July 4.

Ibrahim Isah-Wangida, legal representative for the Kano State Attorney General, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and the House of Assembly itself, filed a motion ex parte on May 27.

The applicants are asking the court to restrain Aminu Ado-Bayero and four other former Emirs from pretending to be traditional rulers or holding themselves out as such.

The respondents are Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero, Bichi Emir; Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar ll, Emir of Karaye; Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa, Emir of Rano; and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya, Emir of Gaya.

Others are the Inspector-General of Police, Director, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigeria Army.

When the case came up for hearing on all pending applications, counsel to the applicants, Mr. Eyitayo Fatogun SAN, informed the court that he was served with five processes on July 1 at about 6:30 p.m. by the first respondent.

“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.”

Counsel to Ado-Bayero, Mr Abdul Muhammed SAN, opposed the 30-minute standdown and sought an adjournment to enable him to reply and file all their applications.

Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu rescheduled the case for July 4, setting a new date for the court to consider all pending applications and motions.

The court granted a temporary restraining order on May 27, barring the 1st to 5th respondents, their servants, and allies from claiming the title of Emir, in the interest of maintaining public peace in Kano.

In a recent development, the Kano State House of Assembly nullified the four new Emirate councils on May 23, and Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf promptly reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, effectively reinstating the original Emirate structure.