THE Kano State Government has said the court ruling which ordered the reinstatement of the recently deposed emir, Ado Bayero, was delivered in its favour.
The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, said during a press briefing on Thursday, June 20, 2024, that the court ruling “unequivocally” reaffirmed the amendment of the Emirates Council Law by the State House of Assembly in May.
He also said plans were underway to demolish the mini palace occupied by Bayero, and the government has directed the Commissioner of Police to remove him from the palace.
“Following this court’s ruling, Kano State Government has directed the State Commissioner of Police to remove the deposed emir of the eight metropolitan local governments from the government property where he is trespassing as the government has already concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the property including the demolishing and reconstruction of the dilapidated wall fence with immediate effect,” he said.
The government maintained this position, despite the restoration of the repealed Emirates Law by the court on Thursday, which, upon its amendment, led to Bayero’s dethronement and Lamido Sanusi’s reinstatement
The ICIR reported that the ruling implied the reinstatement of Bayero and the other four deposed emirs.
The judge, Abdullahi Liman, also nullified Sanusi’s reinstatement stating that the government failed to obey a court order that restrained it from taking action of the new Emirate Council Law.
The emirship tussle in Kano has persisted for about a month since the government abolished the five emirates in the state.
The matter had been pending in court, as both the state High Court and a Federal High Court in the state issued conflicting orders on the matter.
While Bayero refused to relinquish his office and has occupied the mini palace in the Nasarawa area of Kano City, Sanusi has been in charge of the main palace.
On June 3, The ICIR reported that the tussle over the throne left Kano residents and other Nigerians confused as to who would lead the Kano Durbar, a significant and historic festival in the state usually led by the emir.
However, a few days before the festivities, the police banned all durbar activities as part of efforts to sustain peace in the state.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.