The ongoing dispute over the Kano Emirate has led to differing interpretations of a recent Federal High Court ruling between Sani Bature, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abba Yusuf, and legal practitioner Abba Hakeem.
Sani Bature argued that the court’s ruling supported the dissolution of the five emirates established in 2019. According to Bature, this decision aligns with Governor Yusuf’s actions and reaffirms the state’s authority in restructuring the emirate system.
On the other hand, Abba Hakeem contended that the court ruling invalidated the repeal of the law that created the five emirates, suggesting that the legal framework establishing these emirates remains intact.
Both men reacted to the court’s decision regarding the claims to the Kano royal stool by Muhammadu Sanusi and Aminu Ado Bayero. The interpretations of the ruling reflect the complexity and contentious nature of the ongoing royal tussle in Kano.
Bature said, “People need to understand that yesterday’s judgment is in our favour because of several reasons. One, the judgment accepted the validity of the repealed law 2024, which invalidates the five emirates and also deposed the five Emirs in Kano.”
“So, therefore, at the moment and based on yesterday’s judgment, Aminu Ado Bayero and the other four Emirs were officially deposed and they should remain deposed until the determination of the appeal that was filed by us.”
Countering the CPS’s claims, Hakeem said, “The ruling of the Federal High Court yesterday was very clear. In fact the certified true copy of that ruling is currently going round on social media and it is clear that the first order given by that court is that all actions taken portion to the 2024 Kano State repealed law are set aside.
“The second order was that that does not affect the validity or invalidity of the law because it is a subject of a substantive suit which is still pending before the court.”
Though the judge, on Thursday, refused the application to declare the amended Kano Emirate law null and void, he overturned all the actions taken by Governor Abba Yusuf after the controversial law was amended by the Kano State House of Assembly on May 23, 2024.
Justice Liman faulted the governor’s assent to the bill and the presentation of an appointment letter to Emir Sanusi on May 24, 2024, despite an order of the court directing all parties to maintain the status quo.
The judge said he listened to the statement of the governor in the media after assenting to the law, and he was convinced that the respondents (the governor and Kano State House of Assembly) were aware of the order to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motions on notice in the court.
Justice Liman said the mess in the state could have been prevented if the respondents complied with the court order, which would still have allowed them to carry out their assignments.
