Tight security as court begins hearing on Kano emirate tussle

A federal high court in Kano has commenced a hearing on the Kano Emirates tussle between Lamido Sanusi and Aminu Bayero.

There is a heavy security presence around the court facility, with officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) strategically positioned to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

Movement around the area is restricted and vehicles are being diverted from Court Road to Zoo Road and the Gyadi-Gyadi area of the town pending the conclusion of the hearing.

THE CONTROVERSY

The controversy began in May when Sanusi was reinstated as emir by Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano.

Sanusi’s reinstatement followed the repeal of the law that Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano, used to depose and exile him in 2020.

On May 23, a federal high court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.

Bayero returned to Kano from a trip to Ogun and moved into a palace in Nassarawa LGA.

But the Kano governor ordered Bayero’s arrest “for creating tension in the state”.

CONFLICTING ORDERS

On May 27, Amina Aliyu, judge of a Kano high court, made an ex parte order restraining Bayero from parading himself as the Emir of Kano pending the determination of the suit.

The court also ordered the police to take over the Nassarawa palace where Bayero has been staying since he returned to Kano.

On May 28, the same judge restrained the DSS, police and others from evicting Sanusi from the palace.

Shortly after, another high court, presided over by S.A. Amobeda, ordered the eviction of Sanusi from the palace.

On May 29, Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), summoned the chief judges of the federal high court and the Kano state high court over the conflicting orders on the emirship tussle.