The Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Thursday, that Aminu Bayero, who was removed by the state governor, Abba Yusuf as Kano Emir, has jurisdiction to be heard.
The ruling is against Kano state government and others, who are challenging Bayero’s jurisdiction of the court to entertain the issue of fundamental human rights instituted by a Kano traditional holder, Aminu Babba Dan’Agundi in connection with the emirship tussle.
Recall that Dan’Agundi, who is the traditional title holder of Sarkin Dawaki Babba of Kano emirate, had approached the court seeking to enforce his fundamental human rights allegedly violated by the government action in the Emirship tussle.
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The respondents in the suit are Kano State Government as 1st respondent, Kano State House of Assembly (2nd), Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly (3rd), Attorney General of Kano State (4th), Kano Commissioner of Police (5th), Inspector General of Police, IGP (6th), NSCDC and DSS as 7th and 8th respondents respectively.
This legal battle is part of a larger dispute over the leadership of the Kano emirate.
Tensions arose in the city after the Kano government deposed Emir Bayero and reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Both Bayero and Sanusi are currently claiming the position of Emir, and are holding court from separate palaces.
Delivering the ruling on jurisdiction on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Abdullahi M. Liman, ruled that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the matter bothering on the applicant’s fundamental human rights.
Justice Liman gave the ruling relying on Section 42 sub-section 1 and Section 315 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
However, reacting to the ruling, the Counsel to the 2nd and 3rd respondents, Ibrahim Isah Wangida, said he would meet with his client to decide the next line of action whether or not they will take the option to appeal the ruling in the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, the judge, Justice Liman, adjourned the matter till Friday for hearing of all pending application saying the case is too sensitive for it to be dragged for too long.
