The spokesperson for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, and a legal practitioner, Barrister Abba Hikima, have expressed differing views on the court ruling regarding the Kano Emirate dispute.
Tofa maintains that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the Emir of Kano according to the ruling, while Hikima argues that, legally, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero holds the position of emir.
Tofa and Hikima discussed Thursday’s judgment on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday.
Bature stated, “People need to understand that the judgment was in our favor for several reasons.”
“One, the judgment upheld the validity of the repeal law of 2024, which nullifies the five emirates and deposed the five emirs in Kano. Currently, based on yesterday’s (Thursday) judgment, Aminu Ado Bayero and the other four emirs have been officially deposed and will remain so pending the outcome of our appeal.”
“Secondly, since the law has been validated, Sanusi II is now at the palace functioning as the 16th Emir of Kano. The judge granted a stay of proceedings, allowing us to keep Sanusi II at the palace and perform all the duties of an emir until the main issue was resolved.
“The controversy began with a law, and a court cannot reject a law passed by the state assembly or National Assembly due to the principle of separation of powers.”
In response, Barrister Hikima stated that Bature’s assertion was inaccurate.
Hikima clarified, “There is no contradiction. Yesterday’s ruling (Thursday) was explicit. The certified copy of the ruling is available on social media.
“It is evident that the initial order from the court states that all actions taken under the 2024 Kano emirate repeal law are nullified. This does not determine the law’s validity or invalidity, as this matter remains the subject of the ongoing substantive lawsuit before the court.”