Kano govt tackles Tofa over creation of new emirates

The Kano state government says Bashir Tofa, MKO Abiola’s main rival in the 1993 presidential election, cannot speak for 20 million residents of the state on the creation of new emirates.

Twenty elders in Kano led by Tofa Tofa had filed a suit to challenge the creation of four new emirates by the government of Abdullahi Ganduje.

The state had filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case.

In a counter affidavit filed on December 31, 2019, Ibrahim Mukthar, the state attorney-general, said the creation of the new emirate council is a matter of public interest, adding that the 20 elders could not stand for over 20 million residents of the state.

The counter affidavits included a notice of preliminary objection against the elders, memorandum of conditional appearance and another seeking interlocutory injunction.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, the government stood its ground that the elders cannot represent the people on the issue of the new emirates.

AB Muhmud, counsel to the plaintiffs, protested against the late serving of the counter affidavits by the attorney-general, which he noted were served to them only on Tuesday.

Nuradeen Sagir, the presiding judge, adjourned the case till January 22.

In November 2019, a high court in the state sacked four emirs installed by Ganduje, dismissing the law creating additional emirates.

But a month after, the governor signed into law a new bill seeking the creation of four additional emirates in the state. The new emirates Bichi, Karaye, Rano and Gaya.