The Kano State High Court has adjourned the hearing of a suit filed by the Kano State Government against the 15th Emir Ado Bayero and four other emirs.
The case, which seeks to restrain the emirs from parading themselves as such, has been postponed to July 2, 2024.
Justice Amina Adamu, presiding over the case, made the decision after listening to arguments from both counsels.
The adjournment follows the filing of a motion on notice by the plaintiffs for an interlocutory injunction, subsequent to an interim order previously granted by the court. The first defendant had served the plaintiff with a counter-affidavit, to which they were expected to respond.
In response to the escalating tension surrounding the emirship tussle, the Kano State Police Command has significantly increased its security presence around the contested palaces.
Background
In 2019, the then-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje split the Kano Emirate into five separate entities: Kano, Rano, Gaya, Karaye, and Bichi. This controversial move was widely perceived as an attempt to diminish the influence of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, who had been critical of the state government’s policies.
The situation escalated in March 2020 when Ganduje deposed Sanusi II, citing insubordination. Aminu Ado Bayero was promptly appointed as the new Emir of Kano. This action sparked widespread protests and legal challenges from Sanusi’s supporters and those advocating for the preservation of the singular Kano Emirate.
Following a change in political leadership in 2023, efforts were made to reconcile the fragmented emirate system. These attempts culminated in a surprising turn of events in early 2024 when the new state government, in a bid to restore traditional hierarchy, reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano. This decision effectively reversed the 2020 deposition and the emirate split.
However, the reinstatement of Sanusi II created a new set of challenges. Aminu Ado Bayero and the emirs of the four other emirates, who had been functioning in their roles since 2019, refused to relinquish their positions. They argued that their appointments were legal and could not be summarily dismissed.
This standoff led to a tense situation in Kano, with two claimants to the throne of Kano Emirate and four additional emirs insisting on their legitimacy. The state witnessed increased security measures, including the deployment of police forces to the palaces of the contending emirs.
In response to this crisis, the Kano State Government filed a lawsuit against Emir Ado Bayero and the four other emirs, seeking to restrain them from parading themselves as emirs. This legal action aimed to solidify Sanusi II’s position and resolve the leadership dispute within the traditional institution.
Court’s Decision
Justice Adamu addressed the motion on notice filed by the plaintiffs seeking an interlocutory injunction. This motion came after the court had previously granted an interim order in the case. The first defendant, responding to the plaintiff’s motion, served a counter-affidavit, to which the plaintiffs were expected to respond.
After carefully considering the arguments presented by both parties’ counsels, Justice Adamu reached a decision to adjourn the hearing of the suit. The court set July 2, 2024, as the new date for the continuation of the case.
