A Kano High Court has ordered Aminu Ado Bayero to cease presenting himself as the 15th Emir of Kano.
This order, issued by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, also directs the police to evict Bayero from the mini palace on State Road.
The ruling will remain effective until June 11, 2024, when a substantive motion will be heard.
This legal turmoil follows a recent Federal High Court decision that halted the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano and suspended the law that had established five new emirates in the state.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf challenged this ruling, claiming it was issued by a judge out of the country. Governor Yusuf has vowed to bring the matter before the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), insisting that “nothing is stopping the recognition of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano.”
In defiance of the initial ruling, Sanusi II moved into the emir’s palace on Friday and resumed his duties.
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On Saturday, Bayero, out of town during his deposition, returned to Kano and moved into a mini palace on State Road under heavy security.
Kano’s Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Gumel, alongside other security officials, emphasized their commitment to enforcing the court’s orders.
“The court’s order restraining Sanusi as Emir will be followed to the letter,” stated Commissioner Gumel.
The court’s order also impacts other traditional rulers, restraining Nasiru Ado Bayero, Ibrahim Abubakar II, Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa, and Aliyu Ibrahim Gaya from acting as emirs of Bichi, Gaya, Rano, and Karaye, respectively.
The defendants in this case include the aforementioned individuals, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army.
The plaintiffs are the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly.
Justice Aliyu stressed the importance of adhering to the rule of law, stating, “This court will ensure that its orders are respected and upheld until the substantive motion is heard.”
As the legal battles continue, tensions remain high in Kano, with much anticipation for the June 11, 2024 hearing.
