Gov Yusuf oders eviction of deposed Emir Aminu Bayero from Nasarawa Emirs’ Cemetery

*Directs immediate revonation of the property

*As court validates Emirates Law 2024

*News Analysis: Federal High Court affirms Ado Bayero’s deposition as Emir of Kano

*I’m grateful to Kano govt, Assembly for restoring the unity of Kano Emirate – Sanusi II in earlier interview

By OUR REPORTER, Kano

The Kano State Government has instructed the state Commissioner of Police to remove the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, from the Nasarawa Emirs’ cemetery, where he has been residing since he was covertly relocated by security agencies on the 25th of May, 2024.

During a press briefing, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, revealed that the government had finalised arrangements for the comprehensive renovation of the property.

This, he said, entails the immediate demolition and reconstruction of the dilapidated perimeter wall.

This course of action quickly followed the Federal High Court’s judgment on the pivotal lawsuit, which was said to have validated the legality of the Kano Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.

The DEFENDER reports that the prayers that brought suit before the Federal High Court were seeking that the Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024 be nullified but, on Thursday June 20, the sponsors were overruled as the law was declared valid, although the court in what looks like around on same spot to get itself a soft landing rendered the implementation of the law by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf null and void.

Analysing the Federal High Court ruling, checks by a source revealed that it simply meant that the Federal Court, which already has faced criticisms for wrongfully assuming jurisdiction in chieftaincy matter that is constitutionally a local affair, affirmed Aminu Ado Bayero’s deposition as Emir of Kano as it held the validity of the Kano Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024.

The ruling delivered by Justice A.M. Liman was said to have brought to an end, the argument on the deposition of former Emir Aminu Ado Bayero as the court ruled that the new Kano Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024 remains valid.

According to the ruling, all five Emirates of Gaya, Rano, Karaye, Kano and Bichi remained abolished.

While delivering the ruling, Justice A.M. Liman held that the Kano Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024 remains the law and that its validity is intact but actions taken after assenting the law when an order from the court was issued are voided.

Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf had assented to the new law and reinstated the 14th Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi as the 16th Emir of one united Kan at the same time (23rd May, 2024 by 5.10pm).

“Law is still the law, but actions carried out in the execution of the law are set aside,” he ruled.

Justice Liman also granted a stay of proceeding and transfered the case to his learned brother of court three, Justice Amobeda, which bars all parties from taking any step to enforce the ruling till after determination of the appeal.

“By this decision of the Federal High Court, the five former Emirs including that of Kano with 8 Local Government areas remained deposed and the defunct Emirates remained abolished.

“It is therefore assertained that the 16th Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II remains on throne and Aminu Ado Bayero remains deposed while the legal tussle continues,” the said posited.

Reacting to the development, Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, revealed that the government had finalised arrangements for the comprehensive renovation of the property.

“In alignment with the Court’s decision, the Kano State Government has instructed the State Commissioner of Police to expel the deposed emir of the 8 metropolitan local governments from the Government premises where he is unlawfully encroaching, as the has already completed preparations for the extensive refurbishment of the property, including the swift dismantling and reconstruction of the deteriorated boundary walls.

“I convey my felicitations and beseech the honorable residents of Kano State to uphold tranquility and commemorate the triumph of justice in Kano.”

Victory for Kano people

In the meantime, the long awaited ruling of Federal High Court sitting in Kano, which was finally delivered amidst beefed up security on Thursday, has been described as victory for the people of Kano State and vindication of both the Government of Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Kano State House of Assembly.

For Kano people, the unity of the ancient Emirate as a singular, indissoluble, indivisible entity has been restored five years after it was divided by one person in Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as a major achievement of days as Governor of Kano State.

This was coming as Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, in a DEFENDER ROYALTY interview published earlier before the Thursday Federal High Court ruling, pointed out that Kano people did not ask to be divided but that the split that the Emirate had suffered in the last five years was only a wishful thinking of an individual.

Adding that what had today been widely reported as emirship crisis in the ancient empire was a creation of the previous administration (of Ganduje), the Emir of Kano said:

“So, we are one people. Nobody asked for it. So what we are dealing with is a situation where somebody divided us, and actually when you create these things, some people get some privileges. They didn’t ask for it, but they’ve enjoyed it for four years.

“Now when they lose it, it’s a problem. But the problem is not what has happened today. It is what happened four years ago. If it had not been done, we would not be in this situation today. We are one family, we are one people. Somebody comes, divides us up. Even in this family, he takes one emirate, gives a part of the family. Now, when people enjoy it for four years and you take it away from them, it becomes a problem.

“But the truth is, when you take the larger picture, this is a kingdom that has existed. If you go to the king list in Kano, the king list from Baguada starts in 999 AD. We have a list of kings. From Baguada up to me in my first term, I was the 57th. If you add my cousin and myself, I’m 57th and 59th.

“In that period, we’ve had the expansion of Arewa kingdon. The only time a part of Kano was taken out was when Jigawa State was created. Because Jigawa State, put together Kazaure Emirate, Hadejia Emirate, Gumel Emirate, but those three combined were not big enough to make a viable state and the Hadejia and Gumel people wanted a state. So, part of Kano was carved out. And these are the two Emirates of Dutse and Ringim. We were all hurt. As a family, it’s like cutting off a part of you. At least Ringim is still with members of our family. That’s fine. It was necessary.”

Unity of Kano Emirate restored

Sanusi II continued saying that, “Another governor can come tomorrow and say that he has removed me, it doesn’t matter. But I am happy if he does not touch the emirate. I am happy that I will not leave a history that it was during my time that this one thousand years of history was destroyed. So, I am grateful to this government, grateful to this Assembly that they have corrected that for me; that we have the emirate restored to what it was and Insha’Allah that when I die or when I leave, the person who inherits will inherit what we had. It’s about the system, not about me or about any individual,” he said.

He also gave reason he did not challenge his removal as 14th Emir of Kano in court, saying that it was for “A number of reasons. I have told you that I don’t have a fundamental right to be an Emir. I am one of hundreds of princes. God chose me. And if God says I should leave, for me, I take it that God knows better than me why I had to leave. I want you to think about it. Okay, let’s say I go to court.

“I just got a letter that said you are removed for insubordination. I had never been queried for insubordination. The details of the insubordination were not given. I had not been given any chance to defend myself. So, it was clear that the state and federal governments had both decided that it was time for me to go. Okay?

“So, let’s even assume that the court said I should come back, do you think, for me I was looking forward to working with that government?  Would I have been happy as an Emir in the last three years working with that government? You’re under a governor, the law gives him the power to be on top of you. He has said he does not like you. He has made it clear he does not like you. If I come, he would just make my life miserable.”