Following ruling by a Federal High Court in Kano, on Thursday, that recognized Ado Bayero as the Emir of Kano, the state government has announced immediate demolition of Bayero’s palace.
On Thursday, June 20, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad-Liman granted the prayers of Bayero’s counsel that the actions taken in enacting the Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, were null and void.
Muhammad-Liman, in the ruling which has created gap for more legal litigation following the arguement of the state government, however, said the order nullifying the actions taken in enacting the law did not invalidate the law.
“I hereby order that every step or actions taken by the respondents in pursuant to Kano Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024 is null and void and is set aside. However, this order does not affect the validity of the law,” Justice Liman ruled.
He said the respondents should take serious the rulings, until the Appeal Court takes decision. He said the flouting of the court’s order dated May 23, to maintain status quo, could not have gone without sanction.
“I think it is a very serious matter for anyone to flout the orders of the court and go scot free with it,” he added.
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The State government in response to the ruling, through the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi, accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Baffa Bichi, said since the Justice Liman Federal High Court recognized the validity of the Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024, the state government would proceed with the plan of renovating the Nasarawa mini palace housing Ado Bayero, with immediate effect.
Haruna said, “The Kano State government acknowledges the ruling by the Federal High Court regarding the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 and views same as upholding the rule of law.
Speaking on the ruling’s upholding the law, Dederi added, By the ruling of the court, it has unequivocally reaffirmed the validity of the law passed by Kano State House of Assembly and assented to by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State on Thursday, May 23, 2024, by 5:10 pm.”
Dwelling on the gap created in the ruling, he said further, “This part of the judgement is very fundamental to the entire matter. Further implication of the ruling is that all actions done by the government before the emergence of the interim order of the honorable court, are equally validated.
“This means that, the abolishing of the five emirates created in 2019 is validated and the deposition of the five emirs is also sustained by the Federal High Court.
“By implication this means that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the emir of Kano. The judge also granted our application for the stay of proceedings until the Court of Appeal deals with the appeal before it on jurisdiction.
“Happily, the signing of the law and the reinstatement of His Highness, Emir Muhammad Sunusi II were done on May 23, 2024, before the emergence of the interim order which was served on us on Monday, May 27, 2024.
‘’Following this court’s ruling, Kano State government has directed the state commissioner of police to remove the deposed emir of the 8 metropolitan local governments from the government property where he is trespassing as 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.”
