A Federal High Court in Kano State has fixed June 13 for its ruling on the issue of jurisdiction in the case of Kano emirate crisis.
Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, the presiding judge, adjourned the sitting following arguments between counsels on Thursday.
The Kano Emirate engulfed in crisis following the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano by Governor Kabir Yusuf.
The governor’s action followed the passage of the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law by the state assembly.
However, Aminu Ado Bayero, the 15th Emir who was appointed after Sanusi’s dethronement in 2020, has refused to vacate the throne.
Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate, had approached the court, asking it to restrain the Kano State government, assembly and security agencies from enforcing, implementing and operationalising the repealed law.
The respondents in the suit are Kano State Government, Kano State House of Assembly, Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Attorney General of Kano State, Kano Commissioner of Police, IGP, NSCDC and DSS.
At the court hearing on Thursday, M.S Wazir, the counsel to the applicant, said that the written address was filed on June 6.
“On the issue of jurisdiction, in compliance with the order of the court, we have filed a written address dated 6th June and hereby adopt same and maintain that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the matter because the issue is of fundamental human rights.
“The applicant as a member of Kano emirate Kingmakers ought to have been involved in the reinstatement of the new emir. My lord, breach of fundamental rights has no timeline. I urge the court to proceed with the case,” he said.
Responding, Mahmoud Abubakar Magaji, the counsel to the state government and attorney general of the state, argued that the court lack jurisdiction to hear the matter.
He therefore urged the court to decline to entertain the matter on the issue of jurisdiction.
“We filed a written address dated June 3 and filed June 6. In the constitution, only the Kano State House of Assembly has the authority and power to make law.
“The applicant is neither a member of the House of Assembly or the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs. The applicant may not need to be consulted,” he said.
After hearing the arguments from the counsels, the judge adjourned the case till June 13 for its ruling.
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