A Kano State High Court has adjourned the hearing of an application in the ongoing Kano Emirship Tussle case to July 4.
The decision was made on Tuesday by Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu after receiving late submissions from the respondents.
The case was initiated by the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly.
Represented by their counsel, Ibrahim Isah-Wangida Esq, the applicants filed a motion ex parte on May 27. They are seeking an order to restrain the 15th Emir, Aminu Ado-Bayero, and four other dethroned emirs from Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye from presenting themselves as traditional rulers.
The respondents in the case include Ado-Bayero, Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero (Emir of Bichi), Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar II (Emir of Karaye), Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa (Emir of Rano), and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya (Emir of Gaya).
Other parties involved are the Inspector-General of Police, the Director of the State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Army.
During the hearing, counsel for the applicants, Mr. Eyitayo Fatogun SAN, informed the court that they received the respondent’s five processes on the evening of July 1 and had filed their responses. He requested a 30-minute standdown to serve their responses to the respondents.
However, Mr. Abdul Muhammed SAN, counsel for Ado-Bayero, opposed this request and sought an adjournment to reply and file all their applications.
In light of these developments, Justice Adamu-Aliyu adjourned the matter until July 4 for the hearing of all pending applications and originating motions.
Previously, on May 27, the court granted an interim injunction restraining the first five respondents and their associates from parading themselves as Emirs to maintain peace in Kano.
This followed the State House of Assembly’s dissolution of four newly created Emirate councils on May 23, and the reappointment of Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano by Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf.