The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto has affirmed its earlier judgment regarding the illegal dethronement of the 19th Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Almustapha Haruna Jakolo.
Presiding Judge Justice Ebiowei Tobi confirmed the court’s previous ruling and dismissed the appeal filed by the Kebbi State Government, citing a lack of merit.
Justice Tobi expressed satisfaction with the earlier judgment passed by Justice Abbas Ahman of the Kebbi State High Court, stating that the deposition of the 19th Emir was contrary to the law and did not follow due process.
The judge declared the dethronement of Jakolo null and void, noting that he was not given a fair opportunity to defend himself against the allegations made against him, infringing upon his fundamental human rights as a citizen.
Jakolo was dethroned as Emir of Gwandu by the Kebbi State Government in June 2005 under former Governor Muhammadu Adamu Aliero’s administration.
Justice Tobi reaffirmed the decision made by Justice Abbas Ahman, emphasizing that the deposition was unlawful and that due process was not adhered to.
Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo, a former military officer and Aide de Camp (ADC) to former Head of State Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), ascended to the throne of the Gwandu Emirate in July 1995, shortly after retiring from the Nigerian Army. He became the 19th Emir following the death of his father, Alhaji Haruna Al-Rasheed.
Following his dethronement on June 3, 2005, Jokolo was banished to Lafia in Nasarawa State. The state government leveled three allegations against him, accusing him of making misguided statements threatening national security, having strained relations with other traditional rulers, and abandoning his throne to relocate to Kaduna.
The former Kebbi State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Audi Ambursa, announced Jokolo’s dethronement, stating that Governor Aliero acted based on the powers conferred upon him by Section 6 of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) laws of the state. The government subsequently appointed Major General Muhammad Bashir Iliyasu (rtd) as the 20th Emir of Gwandu to succeed Jokolo.
Speaking to journalists after the judgment at the Appeal Court premises, Barrister Pascal C. Onyetobi, counsel to the former Emir, described the ruling as a significant milestone in Jakolo’s pursuit of justice. He noted that Jakolo has won his appeal three consecutive times and is now awaiting the Supreme Court’s final ruling on the matter.
In response, Barrister Maikyau SAN, counsel for the Kebbi State Government and President of the Nigerian Bar Association, indicated that they would review the judgment and consider the possibility of appealing to the Supreme Court, as they had previously anticipated.
“We will study the case and are likely to go back to the Supreme Court, where the matter may reach its conclusion, since there is room for appeal,” Maikyau stated.