Abdul Muhammed, along with other counsel representing the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, has withdrawn their legal services in the ongoing emirship dispute before the Kano State High Court.
The case, brought by the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly, seeks to restrain Aminu Ado Bayero and four other dethroned emirs from parading themselves as emirs. The applicants, represented by counsel Ibrahim Isah-Wangida, filed a motion ex parte on May 27.
The respondents include Aminu Ado Bayero, Nasiru Ado Bayero (Emir of Bichi), Ibrahim Abubakar (Emir of Karaye), Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa (Emir of Rano), and Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya (Emir of Gaya). Additional respondents are the Inspector General of Police, Director of State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army.
During the hearing, Abdul Muhammed informed the court of an affidavit of fact dated July 3, accompanied by a notice of appeal and a motion to stay proceedings. He requested the court to pause the case pending the appeal court’s decision.
“My lord, we were served with the court processes this morning by the applicants,” Muhammed stated, seeking an adjournment to respond. The court denied his request. Subsequently, he and his co-counsel withdrew their representation of the first respondent, Aminu Ado Bayero.
Hassan Tanko-Kyaure, representing the 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents, moved for an extension of time dated July 2 and filed a counter affidavit. He urged the court to set aside the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, arguing that due process was not followed and seeking dismissal of the applicant’s motion with a cost of N1 billion.
Counsel for the Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ekwe, stated he had no presentation and deferred to the court’s discretion.
Eyitayo Fatogun, counsel for the applicants, urged the court to dismiss the respondents’ affidavit of facts as an attempt to delay proceedings, citing Order 39, Rules 1 and 2 of the court. He contended that the motion referred to a proposed notice of appeal rather than an actual notice, rendering the affidavit irrelevant.
Fatogun also requested the court dismiss the respondents’ applications concerning the Kano Emirate Repeal Law, arguing the issue was not before the court.
In her ruling, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu refused the application for a stay of proceedings filed by the respondents. The court had previously granted an interim injunction on May 27, restraining the five respondents from parading themselves as emirs to maintain peace in Kano.
The court’s decision follows the Kano State House of Assembly’s dissolution of four newly created emirate councils on May 23, with Governor Abba Yusuf subsequently reappointing Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.
