Emirate tussle: Gov Yusuf’s spokesman, lawyer disagree over court ruling

Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Spokesperson for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, and a legal practitioner, Barrister Abba Hikima, have disagreed over the court ruling on the Kano Emirate tussle. While Tofa insisted that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the Emir of Kano in accordance with the ruling, Hikima said that in the eyes of the law, Alhaji […]

Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Spokesperson for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, and a legal practitioner, Barrister Abba Hikima, have disagreed over the court ruling on the Kano Emirate tussle.

While Tofa insisted that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the Emir of Kano in accordance with the ruling, Hikima said that in the eyes of the law, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero is the emir.

Tofa and Hikima analysed the Thursday judgment on Channels’ TV Politics Today on Friday.

Bature said, “People need to understand that the judgement was in our favour because of a number of reasons.

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“One, the judgement accepted the validity of the repeal law 2024 that invalidates the five emirates and also deposed the five emirs in Kano. At the moment and based on yesterday’s (Thursday) judgment, Aminu Ado Bayero and all the other four emirs were officially deposed and they remain deposed until the determination of the appeal filed by us.

“Secondly, because the law is validated, Sanusi II is already at the palace working as the 16th Emir of Kano. The judge said that he stays proceeding. Stay proceeding gave us an opportunity to maintain Sanusi II at the palace and continue to render all the services of an emir until the substantive matter is determined.

“The whole controversy started with a law and there is no reason a court can say no to a law established by the state assembly or National Sssembly because there is separation of power.

“Those three arms of government: the executive, the judiciary and the legislature work independently even though they are interwoven as arms of government.

“The judge was able to validate the law established by the state assembly which is a plus to us. We welcome the judgment as we wait for the appeal.”

But responding, Barrister ? Hikima said that Bature’s submission was not correct.

Hikima said, “There is no any contradiction. The ruling given yesterday (Thursday) was very clear. In fact, the certified copy of the ruling is on social media.

“It’s clear that the first order given by that court is that all actions taken pursuant to the 2024 Kano emirate repeal law are set aside and that doesn’t affect the validity or invalidity of the law because it’s the subject of substantive suit which is still before the court.

“There is no final judgement on the validity of that law made in Kano State. It’s still being contended. So it’s not correct. We have a duty to tell the people the truth.

“The court was very clear on the 23rd of May. It said that all parties before the court were directed and ordered by the court to maintain status quo. It means they should maintain state of affair as it existed before the passage and assent of that law.

“Before the passage and the assent of the law by the governor we had five emirates in the state. The federal high court said that everyone should go back to that affairs.

“Therefore there is a duty for Kano State Government and the governor to ensure that the orders of the court are maintained. In the eyes of the law the Emir of Kano is Aminu Ado Bayero.”