Hearing of suit challenging appointment of Bamalli as Emir of Zazzau begins

The High Court of Justice, Dogarawa, Zaria, Kaduna State has begun sitting on the suit filed by one Bashir Aminu (Iyan Zazzau) challenging the appointment of Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as the new emir of Zazzau.

When the case came up on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Kabir Dabo, asked if the parties involved in the litigation were served.

But on the contrary, the court heard that they were not and so the judge directed the prosecution to serve all the parties before the next sitting.

The case was therefore adjourned to October 27, 2020.

Counsel to the Plaintiff, Samuel Atum, who stood for Ustaz Yunus (SAN) while speaking with journalists, said they were in court to challenge the process used to appoint the new Emir, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli.

Earlier in a motion of notice submitted in the court, the Plaintiff sought: “A declaration that the plaintiff is still the Emir of Zazzau and is entitled to all rights and privileges pertaining thereto.

“An order setting aside the purported appointment of the 10th defendant (Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli) as the Emir of Zazzau;

“An injunction restraining the 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th defendants from acting in the installation of the 10th defendant to the throne of the Emir of Zazzau or presenting to the 10th defendant with the staff of office until the final determination of this suit;

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves, agents, privies, servants or through any person or persons howsoever from treating, presenting or dealing with or installing the 10th defendant as the Emir of Zazzau;

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 10th defendant from parading, presenting or styling himself as the Emir of Zazzau or from putting on or wearing any paraphernalia or insignia of the Emir of Zazzau.”

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from dealing with, treating, presenting, or dealing with installing the 10th defendant as the Emir of Zazzau or handing over to him the staff of the office of the Emir of Zazzau.”

In his submission to back his claims, the Plaintiff argued that on September 25, the Zazzau Emirate kingmakers, chaired by the Wazirin Zazzau, Ibrahim Aminu, had forwarded a list of three shortlisted princes to Governor El-Rufai for his consideration and appointment of a new Emir.

The shortlisted candidates were Bashir Aminu, Iyan Zazzau who scored 89 marks; Munir Jafaru, Yariman Zazzau who got 87 marks and; Aminu Shehu Idris, Turakin Karamin Zazzau who got 53 marks.

The three candidates were selected from applications received by the kingmakers from 11 princes from all the four ruling houses of the emirate to succeed the late emir.

However, the governor on October 1, dissolved the list earlier submitted by the kingmakers.

According to him, the kingmakers were not fair to other contenders and insisted all aspirants should be given the chance to contest.

The Secretary to the State Government, Balarabe Lawal, had explained that the state government had directed a new round of selection process, following the cancellation of the initial process, which excluded two interested applicants.

The governor, thereafter, appointed Mr Nuhu-Bamalli as the new emir, jettisoning the recommendation of the Zazzau kingmakers.

Joined in the suit were Governor Nasir El-Rufai; Attorney-General of Kaduna State; Kaduna State Council of Chiefs; Zazzau Emirate Council; Wazirin Zazzau, Ibrahim Aminu; Fagachin Zazzau, Umaru Muhammad; Mohammad Abbas, Makama Karamin Zazzau; Dalhatu Kasimu Imam, Limamin Juma’an Zazzau; Mohammad Sani Aliyu, Limamin Konan Zazzau; Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th,5th, 6th, 7th, 8th,9th, and 10th defendants in the suit.

Court papers as follows: