Emir Nasiru Ado Bayero

KANO, Nigeria – In a landmark decision, the Kano State High Court has issued a perpetual injunction preventing Aminu Ado Bayero, the 15th Emir of Kano, and four other dethroned emirs from presenting themselves as traditional rulers. This ruling marks a significant turn in the ongoing saga over traditional leadership in the state.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, bars Bayero and the dethroned emirs of the now-defunct Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye emirates from claiming or exercising any emirate power. The other emirs affected by the ruling are Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero (2nd Emir of Bichi), Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar II (Emir of Karaye), Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa (Emir of Rano), and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya (Emir of Gaya).

The case was brought to court by the Kano State government, represented by counsel Ibrahim Isah-Wangida, on May 27, 2024. The government sought to stop Bayero and the other dethroned emirs from parading themselves as traditional rulers.

Additionally, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of the State Security Service in Kano State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Army were listed as respondents in the case.

Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II

This ruling stems from the Kano State government’s decision to dethrone the five emirs, who were appointed by the previous administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. The move to abolish four out of the five emirates led to a heated legal battle and widespread debate within the state.

The deposed Emir Bayero has been holding court in the Nasarawa mini palace in Kano, while the reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, resides in the main Emir’s palace. Both Bayero and Sanusi II have been asserting their legitimacy as the traditional rulers of Kano, creating a duality in the emirate’s leadership.

Justice Aliyu’s ruling potentially reshapes the traditional leadership structure in Kano State, bringing a critical point to the ongoing saga. The court’s decision is expected to have far-reaching implications on the traditional and political landscape of the region.

The leadership vacuum and the contentious claims to the emirate thrones underscore the complexities of traditional leadership in contemporary Nigeria, where legal and cultural considerations often intersect.

Credit: Leadership