Court Invalidates Kano’s Additional Four Emirates

A Kano State High Court Thursday nullified the creation of four new first-class emirates by the state government.

Ruling on the suit filed by a member of the state House of Assembly, Rabiu Gwarzo, challenging the exercise, the presiding judge, Justice Usman Na’Abba, said the law enabling the creation of the new emirates was improperly enacted, contravening Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He, therefore, declared the law creating the emirates null and void, maintaining that it was faulty.

The affected emirs are those of Bichi, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; Karaye, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar; Rano, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar; and Gaya, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulkadir.

Governor Umar Ganduje appointed the four monarchs as first-class chiefs and upgraded their domain into emirate councils in what is believed to be a deliberate attempt to decimate Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II following their alleged differences over issues bordering on governance.

Prior to the appointment of the traditional rulers, the state government had sent an executive bill for the amendment of the Kano State Chieftaincy Law to the state legislature.

The governor had on May 8, 2019, assented to the bill for the creation of the four fresh emirates.

Prelude to the approval of the now-outlawed emirates, the duo had feuded over a number of issues relating to administration and policies of the current administration in the state.

At a point, the state’s anti-corruption summoned the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the expenditure of the Kano Emirate where he was accused of allegedly mismanaging the funds of the emirate but all was, however, brought a halt following the intervention of some prominent Nigerians from the state and wide.