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  • Kano Emirate Tussle: Kingmaker appeals Court of Appeal Judgement

    Kano Emirate Tussle: Kingmaker appeals Court of Appeal Judgement

    Aminu Dan’Agundi, a kingmaker in Emir Ado Bayero’s cabinet says the faction will appeal the recent Court of Appeal judgement.

    Alhaji Aminu who is senior to the contending emir made the state state in relation to the suit regarding the Kano Emirship.

    In ruling on the matter, the Appeal Court said the Federal High Court, Kano does not have the powers to interfere in the matter, a judgement welcomed by Kano State Government.

    “This ruling validates the government’s lawful actions and clarifies jurisdiction over chieftaincy matters, reinforcing the constitutional boundaries of courts in such affairs,’’ said Mr Haruna Dederi the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

    However, addressing newsmen in Kano on Sunday, Dan’Agundi said he had instructed his legal team to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s ruling at the Supreme Court.

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    He cited errors in the interpretation of the ruling on the side of government which backs Emir Muhammad Sunusi II for the throne.

    He said it was wrong for the Appeal Court to interpret the case as a chieftaincy matter rather than a fundamental human rights violation.

    Dan’ Agundi said he was not contesting the constitutional power of the Kano State House of Assembly to enact or repeal laws but that the Kano Emirate Council Law 2024 (Repeal) did not follow due process.

    He said as a kingmaker in the Emirate Council he should have been accorded a fair hearing before the emirate council law was repealed.

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    “I went to the Federal High Court Kano to challenge the Kano State Government’s decision.

    “After hearing from all the parties, the trial judge, Justice AM Liman, assumed jurisdiction to hear our case on merit.

    “While delivering its judgment, the Appeal Court heavily relied on Supreme Court citation on Emir of Muri’s case, upholding that any issue relating to chieftaincy affairs has to go back to State High Court.

    “But our case and that of Emir of Muri are different.

    “Since the Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain our case, there is nothing I can do than to appeal the judgement,” he said.

    He said challenging the Appeal Court verdict meant that all actions regarding the Emirship be suspended pending the Supreme Court’s final judgment.

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    He, therefore, urged the public to remain calm and wait for the Supreme Court’s verdict on the issue.

  • Kano Emirate Tussle: The rumpus is far from over

    Kano Emirate Tussle: The rumpus is far from over

    As a Coalition for Justice and Rule of Law, convened by Dr. Bashir Danmalam faults the interpretation of the Appeal Court judgement by Kano State Government, which implies that the judgement is a validation of the disputed Emirate Council Law of 2024.

    They fault the Kano State Government’s interpretation of the judgement of the Court of Appeal regarding the Emir of Kano throne, saying it was concerned with the government’s stance on the court ruling.

    Danmalam said contrary to the opinion of the government, the Court of Appeal never validated the disputed Emirate Council Law of 2024.

    Similarly, he said, the Court of Appeal did not validate the disputed current government’s actions regarding the chieftaincy appointments and reforms in the state’s traditional institutions.

    He argued that the Court of Appeal never validated, legalised or upheld the disputed actions of the Executive Governor of Kano State pursuant to the disputed Emirate Council Law of 2024.

    “Independent and unbiased minds appreciate the fact that the judgement of the Court of Appeal are two in numbers.

    “One overturned the ruling of the Federal High Court on jurisdiction and the other overturned the entire judgement of the Kano State High Court,” he said.

    Aminu Ado Bayero (l), Muhammadu Sanusi II (r)

    According to him, the judgement of the Court of Appeal in respect of the Federal High Court ruling held that the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction over chieftaincy matters.

    “The judgement is not in support of any of the postulations of the Kano State government.

    “On the other side of the divide, the judgement of the Court of Appeal in the sister appeal is clearly in favour of His Highness Aminu Ado Bayero and the other 4 Emirates of Bichi, Gaya, Rano and Karaye.

    “This is because the Kano State High Court had earlier declared them improper by virtue of the new Emirate Law of 2024 and further directed the removal of His Highness Aminu Ado Bayero,’’ he said.

    He said the suit before the High Court was instituted by the government seeking nullification of the Emirship of Bayero, which the court granted to pave way for legitimacy of Alhaji Muhammad Sunusi II.

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    Danmalam said the implications of the Appeal Court judgement was that the continuous occupation of the throne by Bayero remained legitimate while the attempted enthronement of Sunusi remained questionable.

    “We extend our appreciation to the judiciary for upholding the principles of justice and fairness.

    “We therefore strongly advise the Kano State Government to stop misleading itself and the public that the judgement of the Court of Appeal is in its favour,” he said.

    Most news organisations, including the Nigerian Anchor recalls that the Kano State Government welcomed the judgement as a validation of Sanusi’s Emirship,

    “This ruling validates the government’s lawful actions and clarifies jurisdiction over chieftaincy matters, reinforcing the constitutional boundaries of the courts in such affairs,“ said Mr Haruna Dederi the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

    However, the Bayero camp has indicated that it would appeal against the Appeal Court judgement at the Supreme Court.

    “I have already instructed my lawyers to obtain a certified true copy of the judgement.

    “Once an appeal is lodged at the Supreme Court, the decision of a lower court is stayed until the case is fully resolved,” said Aminu Dan’Agundi, senior counsel to Bayero.

    The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was first crowned Sarki Muhammadu Sunusi II (anglicized as Sanusi) on 9 June 2014, the fifty-seventh monarch of the ancient-city Kano.

    He was however, ousted in 2020 by then Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state after being accused of showing “insubordination” to the authorities.

    His supporters were however, of the believe that he was sacked as he showed signs of opposing the re-election of the governor.

    After his dethronement, Governor Ganduje influenced the Kano state house of assembly to pass a law that created five new emirates in the state and appointed Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as the new Emir in Kano.

    The Emir of Kano, hierarchically is the fourth-most-important Islamic traditional ruler in Nigeria after the Sultan of Sokoto, Shehu of Borno and Emir of Gwandu.

    Informed sources in Kano opine that the current ping pong represents power play between the federal government and the kano state government, with each favouring a particular candidate as emir.