The Kingmakers in the Kano have dragged governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state to court for creation of four new emirates in the state.
Okay Nigeria understands that the suit was filed on Tuesday at a state high court.
The suit with number K/197/2019 listed Ganduje, the state house of assembly, attorney-general of the state and five others were listed as the defendants, while the kingmakers— Yusuf Nabahani (Madakin Kano), Abdullahi Sarki Ibrahim (Makaman Kano), Bello Abubakar (Sarkin Dawaki man Tuta) and Mukhtari Adnan (Sarikin Ban Kano)— were listed as first, second, third and fourth plaintiffs respectively.
The kingmakers said the governor’s assent to the bill creation of four new emirate was done in bad faith and the action was a desecration of centuries old tradition.
Furthermore, they asked the court to stop the governor from deposing Sanusi or transferring him out of Kano emirate without consulting them.
A copy of the suit seen by Okay Nigeria read:
“The defendants, in purporting to amend the Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, 1984 have desecrated centuries old and highly revered traditions and heritage of the people of Kano and have uprooted the Plaintiffs various traditional titles without giving a hearing to the Plaintiffs and their clans or having regards to ancestral history by hurriedly enacting the Kano State Emirs law, 2019.”
“The defendants desecrated the ancestral history and all known laws connected with or pertaining to Kano Emirate’s customs and tradition by: (a) establishing Bichi Emirate comprising of 9 local governments including Dawakin Tofa and Dambatta, the ancestral homes of the 1st and 4th plaintiffs. The first plaintiffs have her been under any authority of Bichi district.
“(b) Establsihing Gaya Emirate comprising 8 local governments including Wudil and Gabasawa, the ancestral homes of the 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs.”
The kingmakers are seeking a declaration that the passage of the law breaking the emirate was not for peace, order and good governance of the state and therefore contrary to Section 4 (7) of the 1999 constitution.
They are also seeking a declaration that the the governor lacks the power under the existing “emirs laws of Kano state, 1991 to appoint emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya, Karaye or any other person and that the appointments made are unconstitutional, illegal, null and void”.
The kingmakers are asking the court to give an order restraining the newly appointed monarchs from parading themselves as emirs.
Okay Nigeria had reported that Ganduje have completed the creation of the four new emirates after presenting staff of office to the four new emirs.
The emirs are Aminu Ado-Bayero, Bichi; Tafida Ila, Rano; Ibrahim Abdulkadir, Gaya and; Ibrahim Abubakar ll, Karaye.