The controversial emirship tussle in Kano degenerated into judicial drama on Tuesday as two separate courts made conflicting pronouncements over the eviction and counter-eviction of Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 16th Emir of Kano, from the palace.
Grassroots Parrot reports that while a Kano High Court refrained security agencies from evicting Sanusi from the palace, a federal high court countered the order and asked the monarch to vacate his throne with immediate effect.
The latest series in the Kano emirate drama began on Tuesday with a court order from the state high court presided over by Justice Amina Aliyu, restraining the police, the Department of State Services, and the Nigerian military from evicting the reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Hours after the order surfaced, another court order emanating from a federal high court countered the earlier order as it directed the eviction of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II from Kofar Kudu Palace.
READ ALSO: Northern Lawyers Give Gov Yusuf 48 Hours To Rescind Sanusi’s Reinstatement
The court also ordered the police to ensure all rights and privileges due to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, were given to him.
The presiding judge, Justice S. A. Amobeda, who gave the ex parte order, stated that the order was made in the interest of justice and the maintenance of peace in Kano State.
The earlier experte order in favour of the former governor of the central bank of Nigeria CBN was filed by the emir alongside the four kingmakers of Kano: Madakin Kano Yusuf Nabahani; Makaman Kano Ibrahim Sarki Abdullahi; Sarkin Bai Mansur Adnan and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta Bello Tuta.
Granting the order on Tuesday, Justice Aliyu also restrained the security agencies from arresting or harassing the emir and his kingmakers.
The judge held “that an order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the respondents either by themselves, their agents, privies, representatives, or assigns from further harassing, intimidating, inviting, arresting, or invading the personal or official residence of the applicants (Gidan Rumfa), his servants and or any of the Kano Emirate kingmakers of doing such acts that would be capable of interfering with the Applicants’ rights generally to this suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
READ ALSO: Police Vow To Obey Court Order Stopping Sanusi’s Reinstatement As Kano Emir
The judge also held that “An order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the respondents from attempting to hijack, pick, commandeer, confiscate any of the twin spears of authority, the Royal Hat of Dabo, the Ostrich-feathered shoes, the knife and sword of the Emir of Kano as well as symbols of authority pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“That an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the Respondents from taking further steps in connection with the matter or maintaining status quo of staying all action pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
READ ALSO: Court Orders Police To Evict Deposed Kano Emir From Mini Palace
“That it is further ordered that the Respondents are restrained from interfering with the functions, and duties of the 1″ Applicant as the Emir of Kano pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated 28 May 2024.”
The motion on notice was adjourned till June 13, 2024, for hearing.
Grassroots Parrot recalled that on Monday, Justice Aliyu ordered the eviction of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, from the Nassarawa mini palace.