Emirate tussle: Court Orders Eviction Of Emir Sanusi II From Kano Palace
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ordered the Police to evict the reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, from the Emir’s Palace in Kofar Kudu area of Kano metropolis of Kano State.
Ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, on Tuesday, the court, presided over by Justice S. A. Amobeda, also ordered the police to ensure all rights and privileges due to Emir Bayero were given to him.
The court also restrained the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in the State, and the seven other respondents in the suit from denying Bayero the use of his official residence at the Emir’s Palace in Kofar Kudu area of the city, as well as enjoyment of all rights and privileges accrued to him by virtue of being the Emir of Kano.
The judge, who granted the order after hearing from M.L. Yusufari, SAN, appearing with Abdul Muhammad, SAN, Abdul Adamu Fagge, Esq, Abdulrazak A. Ahmad, Esq, and Bashiru Ibrahim, Esq, who are counsels for the applicant, said the move was in the interest of justice and the maintenance of peace in Kano State.
Kano State High Court gave similar orders against Emir Bayero on Monday.
According to the latest court’s document obtained in Kano on Tuesday, the orders read in full: “1. AN ORDER of interim injunction restraining the Respondents either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies, or any other person or authority from inviting, arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing the applicant, raiding, tempering with or visiting the applicant’s in order to arrest or infringe on his right or in any order to arrest or infringe on his right or in any other way infringe or atempt to infringe the applicant’s rights pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion.
“2. An order restraining the 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents and all other respondents from denying the applicant the right the right to use his official residence and palace at the Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu, as well as enjoyment of all rights and privileges accrued to him by virtue of being the Emir of Kano State, and to evicting anybody residing within the palace illegally pending the hearing and the determination of the originating summons.
“3. An order granting leave to the bailiff of this court to serve the 3rd and 4th respondents with all processes in this suit through the office of the fifth respondent situated at Police Headquarters, Kano Command, Bompai, Kano State, and deeming the service as valid, and
“4. An order granting leave to the bailiff of this Court to serve the 6th and 7th respondents with all processes in this suit through their respective Kano offices situated at Giginyu, Kano, and Zaria Road, Kano, and deeming the service as valid, personal, and proper.
“And for such other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
The suit, which has the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Attorney General of Kano State, the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and Nigerian Air Force, as defendants, has been adjourned to the June 4, 2024, for hearing.
Recall that the Kano Emirship tussle began following the decision of the Kano State House of Assembly to repeal the law that led to the creation of four more emirates in the state and the appointment of Aminu Bayero as Emir of Kano.
The repeal paved the way for the deposition of Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano and reinstatement of Sanusi II, who was deposed about four years ago.
But on May 23, the Federal High Court in Kano ordered the Kano State government not to enforce the new Emirate Council Law 2024, an order that was ignored by Governor Abba Yusuf-led state government.
Bayero returned to Kano from a trip to Ogun State on Saturday morning and moved into a mini palace in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the State, while Sanusi II took over the main palace at Kofar Kudu.
The development prompted the Kano State governor to order Bayero’s arrest, but the police said they would abide by the earlier Federal High Court’s order, which put a hold the implementation of the amended Kano Emirate law 2024.