By Yakubu Salisu Kano
Journalists and different media outlets have reported Conflicting narratives about the ruling of a Federal High Court yesterday in Kano over the State emirates’ tussle.
Conflicting reports have been in circulation since yesterday with some reporting Mahammadu Sanusi II has again been dethroned, others reporting the setting aside of the law that abolished the New Emirates and removal of the Emirs, while other mediums reported the reinstatement of Aminu Ado Bayero.
This development has led to discuss among the men of the “pen” and other relevant stakeholders on the need for more accurate and meticulous reportage to avoid misleading the public.
Though the ruling has been characterised “controversial” the urge to break the news first without proper understanding could largely be responsible for the Conflicting reports.
However, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad-Liman in his ruling yesterday declared that all actions carried out by the state government, following the passage of the Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, were null and void.
Liman was quoted saying, “I hereby order that every step or actions taken by the respondents in pursuant to Kano Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024 is null and void and is set aside. However, this order does not affect the validity of the law,” he said.
He went ahead to order all parties to maintain the status quo ante, and held that the respondents were aware of the earlier order, dated May 23, to maintain status quo, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
“I think it is a very serious matter for anyone to flout the orders of the court and go scot free with it.
The catastrophic situation could have been averted if the respondents followed due processes by complying with the court order, which would still have allowed them to carry out their assignments”.
How it started
Alhaji Aminu Babba-Dan’agundi, Sarkin Dawaki Babba, had, through his counsel, Ibrahim Aliyu-Nasarawa, filed a motion dated May 23, in which he asked the court to restrain the Kano State government from implementing the Kano State Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024.
The law had repealed the 2019 Emirate Council law that established five emirates from the original Kano Emirate thereby sacking all the Emir’s of the state.
Shortly after, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reinstated the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II as the 16th Emir who had been sacked by the Abdullahi Ganduje administration in March 2020.
The controversial ruling of Justice Liman has since been widely criticised by different notable individuals as confusing and living the parties in the case at limbo.
It has also sparked serious debate even among law practitioners across the country.
The state of confusion caused by this ruling has also thrown the parties involved in confusion with both parties claiming victory with the state government issuing a directive to the state Commissioner of Police to evict the deposed emir Aminu Ado from his Mini Palace and insisting Sanusi II remains the Emir.