In the suit with number K/197/2019 filed on Tuesday at a state high
court, 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 breaking up the
emirate was done in bad faith and the action was a desecration of
centuries old tradition.
They also asked the court to stop the governor from deposing Sanusi or
transferring him out of Kano emirate without consulting them.
“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) Establishing 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 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.