The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano, signed by the office of the registrar, has confirmed the sacking of the re-instated Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.
Since the judgement was delivered by Justice Muhammadu Liman, on Thursday, the two parties involved have been claiming victory, but a copy of the CTC made available to newsmen in Abuja, showed that the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi was nullified by the court.
For about a month now, there has been a crisis over the amendment of the Emirates law in Kano by the House of Assembly, which has affected the installation of Emir Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano, by the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, after the deposition of Sanusi as Emir of Kano.
In the court’s ruling, it held that the earlier order directing parties to maintain the status quo still stands.
In suit number suit No. FHC/KN/CS/ 1382/2024, the plaintiff, Alhaji! Aminu Babba Dangundi, had dragged the Kano state government, Kano state House of Assembly, the speaker, Kano state House of Assembly, Attorney-General of Kano state, the Commissioner of Police, Kano state, Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Services.
The plaintiff prayed for an order declaring null and void the conduct of the 2nd and 3rd defendants in passing into law the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024, in violation of the order of “this Honourable Court.”
He also prayed the court for an order declaring null and void the appointment of Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusl as the 16th Emir of Kano by the 1st and 4th defendants pursuant to the provisions of the 23rd Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024, in contravention of the order of this court made on the 23rd day of May, 2024.
After listening to counsel in the matter, Justice Lima held, “That every step taken by the defendants in pursuance to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) LAW, 2024, are hereby annulled and set aside.
“That however, this order does not affect the validity of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) LAW, 2024 which is the subject matter of the substantive suit.
“That the earlier order directing parties to maintain status quo ante still stands.”
Police’s reason for ignoring gov’s directive
Meanwhile, the Kano state Commissioner of Police, AIG Usaini Gumel, has given reasons for ignoring Governor Yusuf‘s directive on the eviction of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, from his Nassarawa mini palace.
Governor Yusuf had on Thursday night through the Attorney General And Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, directed the CP to remove Bayero from the Nassarawa mini palace where he is staying.
Speaking in an interview in Kano on Friday, the police commissioner said obeying the governor’s eviction order would be tantamount to “jumping the gun.”
According to him, the same government that gave the order had filed a case at the State High Court on the eviction order which would come up on Monday, June 24, 2024.
“The police will not evict Bayero because the same government has filed a case at the State High Court on the eviction order which would come up on Monday, 24th June, 2024.
“The government is like jumping the gun because the same government has filed a case on the eviction order which is coming up on the 24th of June, 2024. So, if we carry out the order it is like we are pre-empting the court because we don’t know what will happen at the court,” he said.
In the meantime, security has been beefed up around the Nassarawa mini palace where Aminu Ado Bayero is currently dwelling.
Our correspondent who visited the mini palace shortly before the observance of the Juma’at prayer reports that more security personnel had been deployed to the palace in addition to the ones on ground.
It was observed that all the four major routes leading to the mini palace had been cordoned off by security operatives as the police had yet to remove Bayero as directed by Governor Yusuf.
One of his (Bayero’s) supporters who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent that Bayero was still in the mini palace receiving the “traditional greetings” from some traditional rulers loyal to him.
“Let me tell you, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero is still in the mini palace and as I am talking to you now, he is receiving the “traditional greetings” from those loyal to him,” the source said.
He debunked the rumors being peddled in some quarters that a bulldozer had been stationed at the palace in readiness for the demolition of the place.
“I heard that there is rumour going round in some quarters that a bulldozer has been stationed at the Nassarawa mini palace ahead of the demolition. This is social media propaganda,” the source added.
Why Gov. Alia will get second tenure without stress – Gemade (2nd)
A former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Barnabas Gemade, has said Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia of Benue state would secure a second tenure in 2027 “without much stress.”
Gemade, while addressing APC supporters in Vandeikya, hinged his confidence on Alia’s achievements.
The governor is currently on a ‘thank you’ tour to Vandiekya and Konshisha local government areas.
Gemade said the Jechira people in particular, and Benue people in general, were solidly behind the government of Alia, adding that the administration had performed very well in the last one year.
“Alia’s scorecard is better than any governor in Benue; he is competing with Aper Aku who, before now, was number one,” he said.
In his remarks, Gov. Alia lamented the level of underdevelopment in the state, saying past administrations failed to develop it.
He said the massive transformation being witnessed in the state was divine and intended to restore the state’s lost glory.
“Many years ago, Benue was taken 40 years backward. In between, we had great heroes who came in to do their bits and set the people free.
“This is one of the reasons God wants you to join forces with a great few governors who have demonstrated love for their state and for humanity.
“We should bring development and bring our children back to the pedestal that should be in the classroom so that our tomorrow becomes very prosperous and futuristic.
“What we have done in the area of renovation of schools, hospitals, roads construction, provision of electricity among many others in the last one year is just a tip of the iceberg,” he said.
Alia commended President Bola Tinubu for “his laudable initiatives aimed at putting the country back on the fast lane of development.”
He said such lofty programmes were also targeted at improving the lives of the teeming unemployed youth to make them economically viable and employers of labour. (NAN)