KANO: Court restates order stopping Ganduje from appointing new Emirs

A Kano State High Court, on Wednesday, insisted its order restraining Kano State Governor, Abdulahi Ganduje from giving effect to the appointment of new Emirs was still in force pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The presiding judge, Justice Nasiru Saminu, disagreed with the counsel to the state governor, Ibrahim Mukthar, who argued when the case came up on Wednesday that the process for appointing new Emirs had been concluded before the court gave the order.

Mukthar, who is the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, also argued that the court had no power to stop a process that is already completed, after the counsel to the applicant, Abubakar Mahmud, SAN, complained to the court that the respondents did not obey the court’s order.

It would be recalled that Justice Saminu had on Friday, May 10, restrained the governor from appointing and installing the new Emirs following a suit filed by one Rabiu Gwarzo.

Ganduje however went ahead, on Saturday, to install Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Bichi, Tafida Abubakar as Emir of Rano, Ibrahim Abubakar as Emir of Karaye and Ibrahim Abdulkadir as Emir of Gaya.

According to Ganduje’s counsel, Mukthar the processes of amending the Emirs Appointment Law, Gazette and Assented were all done before the restraining order was issued against the respondents, arguing that the court lacked legal power to reverse any completed action.

In his ruling, Justice Saminu ruled that the order issued by him on May 10, restraining the state government from appointing the new Emirs was still in force pending the determination of motion on notice.

The case was adjourned till June 20 for the hearing of the motion on notice.