A Kano State High Court has issued a perpetual injunction restraining the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, and four other dethroned emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye from parading themselves as emirs.

The injunction, granted on Monday, followed a motion ex parte dated May 27, filed by the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly. The applicants, represented by their counsel Ibrahim Isah-Wangida, sought to prevent Ado-Bayero and the other dethroned emirs from continuing to use their titles.

The respondents in the case were  Alhaji Ado-Bayero, Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero (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), along with the Inspector General of Police, Director of State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Army.

In her judgment, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu affirmed the authority of the Kano State House of Assembly to amend and propose legislation for the state’s peace and good governance under section 4 rule 6,7(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. She stated that the Kano State Governor has the right to assent to the proposed bill once passed by the state assembly.

The court also issued an order preventing the police and other security agencies from violating, disobeying, or tampering with the Kano State Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024. Additionally, the deposed emirs were directed to surrender all movable and immovable properties belonging to the Kano State Emirate Council to the state government.

Justice Adamu-Aliyu criticized the first respondent’s legal counsel for withdrawing without notice to other parties, deeming it unprofessional. She noted that the motion moved by the respondents’ counsel was as good as not filed since it had been abandoned.

The judge condemned the actions of the 6th to 9th respondents for smuggling the first respondent to Kano after the enactment of the Emirate Repeal Law 2024, stating that it disregarded their sworn duty to protect life and property.

Earlier, counsel to the applicants, Mr. Ibrahim Isa-Wangida, urged the court to disregard the respondents’ affidavit of facts under order 39 rules 1 and 2 of the court. Counsel to Ado-Bayero, Mr. Abdul Muhammed SAN, informed the court of their affidavit of fact dated July 3, 2024, along with a notice of appeal and a motion to stay proceedings. He requested the court to stay proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the motion at the appeal court.

On May 23, the Kano State House of Assembly dissolved all four newly created emirate councils in the state, and Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.