ASHENEWS reports that the 15 sacked District Heads of the Sokoto Sultanate have secured a court order for the Sokoto state government, to stay further action on their dethronement, pending the hearing and determination of a motion for interlocutory injunction filed before the State High Court.
This platform recalls that in April 2024, based on the recommendation of a probe committee, the State government sacked 15 traditional rulers for alleged offences bordering on insubordination, aiding the activities of banditry, land racketeering and converting public property for private use.
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Those affected included the District Heads of Ungwan Lalle, Yabo, Giyawa, Dogon Daji, Wamakko, Tulluwa, Illela, Kebbe and Alkammu.
The state government also dropped six District Heads whose appointments did not follow due processes. These are the District Heads of Tambuwal, Tangaza, Gongonno, Yar Tsakuwa, Kalambaina and Toronkawa.
We further recall that while the state government directed the committee to continue with the investigation on the allegations levelled against the District Heads of Isa, Kuchi Kilgori, and Gagi, those of Binji and Sabon Birni to Bumkari and Gatawa were transferred.
However, in two applications Nos. SS/M.290/2024 and SS/M.293/2024, filed before Justice Kabiru Ibrahim Ahmed, the District Heads of Tambuwal and Kebbe, Buhari Dahiru Tambuwal and Abubakar Kassim, through their Counsel, Prof. Ibrahim Abdullahi, sought the Sokoto State High Court’s leave to compel the state government, to maintain the status quo, and “stay all actions and or further actions in connection with all matters dealing with and or on appertaining to the removal and or dethronementt of Districts Heads in Sokoto State.”
Joined in the suit were the Governor of Sokoto State, the Attorney General of the State, and the Sokoto Sultanate Council.
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Ruling on the motion exparte brought pursuant to Section 6 (6)a) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended), Justice Ahmed said, “Upon hearing Prof. lbrahim Abdullahi, SAN the Plaintiffs/Applicants’ counsel moving these Exparte Applications SS/M.290/2024 & SS/M.293/2024 on behalf of Plaintiffs/Applicants and having gone through the affidavits attached to these motions as well as written addresses contained therein which he adopted as his legal argument, the court is satisfied that these applications have merit and ought to be granted.
The order obtained by ASHENEWS reads as follows:
Accordingly, the following orders are hereby made;
“AN ORDER of this Honorable Court mandating the Respondents/Defendants by themselves, agents servant, privies or assigns or any person acting on their behalves to maintain status quo ante bellum and or stay all actions and or further actions in connection with all matters dealing with and or on appertaining to the removal and or dethronementt of Districts Heads in Sokoto State, particularly the Applicant as the District Head of Tambuwal in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State pending the hearing and determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction duly filed before this Honorable Court.
“AN ORDER of this Honorable Court mandating the Respondents/Defendants by themselves, agents servant, privies or assigns or any person acting on their behalves to maintain status quo ante bellum and or stay all actions and or further actions in connection with all matters dealing with and or appertaining to the removal and or dethronement of Districts Heads in Sokoto State, particularly the Applicant as the District Head of Kebbe in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State pending the hearing and determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction duly filed before this Honorable Court.”
