In a fresh development in the ongoing Kano emirship tussle, Abdul Muhammed SAN and other counsel representing the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, have withdrawn their legal services before the State High Court. This action occurred during a hearing where the applicants, including the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly, sought to restrain Aminu Ado-Bayero and four other dethroned emirs from parading themselves as emirs.
The respondents in the case include Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero (Bichi emir), Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar II (emir of Karaye), Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa (emir of Rano), and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya (emir of Gaya). The Inspector General of Police, Director of the State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Army were also listed as respondents.
During the hearing, Counsel to Ado-Bayero, Muhammed, informed the court that they had an affidavit of fact dated July 3, attached with a notice of appeal and a motion for a stay of proceedings. He requested an adjournment to respond to the court processes served that morning, but the court refused. Consequently, Muhammed and other counsel representing the first respondent withdrew their legal services.
Counsel to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents, Hassan Tanko-Kyaure, moved an application for an extension of time dated July 2 and submitted a counter affidavit in response to the originating motion. He urged the court to dismiss the applicant’s application with a cost of ₦1 billion, arguing that the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024 should be set aside due to non-compliance with due process.
Counsel to the Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ekwe, stated that they had nothing to present and left everything to the court’s discretion. In response, Counsel to the applicant, Eyitayo Fatogun, urged the court to dismiss the respondents’ affidavit of facts, suggesting it was merely to delay the proceedings.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu refused the application for a stay of proceedings filed by the respondent, stating that no special fact was disclosed to warrant such a stay. The judge adjourned the matter until July 18 for rulings on various pending applications, including an extension of time, a notice of preliminary objection, setting aside the exparte order, a joinder application, and a request for the judge to recuse herself.
The court had previously granted an interim injunction on May 27, restraining the respondents from parading themselves as emirs to maintain peace in Kano. On May 23, the Kano State House of Assembly dissolved all four newly created Emirate councils, and Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.