A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ordered the eviction of the reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, from Gidan Rumfa Palace.
The presiding judge, S. A. Amobeda, who issued the ex parte order, also directed the police to ensure all rights and privileges due to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero are given to him.
Recall that Bayero was deposed last week following the passage of amended Kano Emirate council bill into law and its eventual assent by the Kano State governor, Mr Abba Yusuf.
The judge said the order was made in the interest of justice and maintenance of peace in Kano.
The order states: “An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies or any other person or authority from inviting, arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing the applicant, raiding, tempering with or visiting the applicant in order to arrest or infringe on his right or in any other way infringe or attempt to infringe the applicant’s rights pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.
“An order restraining the 3th, 4th and 5th Respondents and all other Respondents from denying the applicant to use his official residence and palace at the Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu;
“…As well as enjoyment of all rights and privileges accrued to him by virtue of being Emir of Kano State and to evicting anything, anybody residing within the palace illegally pending the hearing and the determination of the originating summons.”
The suit was adjourned to June 4, 2024 for hearing.
However, Justice Amina Aliyu of the Kano State High issued another order restraining the police, the state security service and the Nigerian Army from evicting, harassing or arresting the Sanusi.
The suit filed by the reinstated Emir Sanusi, restrained the police from arresting or evicting the Emir from the Palace located at Kofar Kudu in the metropolis.
The judge issued an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Police and other security agencies from harassing, intimidating, inviting, arresting and or invading the personal or official residence of the reinstated Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi 11, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The presiding judge gave the order upon hearing of ex parte application by counsel to the applicants Bashir Yusuf, dated May 28, 2024.
The order reads: That an order of Interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the Respondents either by themselves, their agents, privies, representative, and assigns from further harassing, intimidating, inviting, arresting and or invading the personal or official residence of the applicants (Gidan Rumfa), his servants and or any of the Kano Emirate kingmakers of doing such acts that would be capable of interfering with the Applicants’ rights generally in relation to this suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
That an order of Interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the Respondents from attempting to hijack, pick, commandeer, confiscate any of twin spear of authority, the Royal Hat of Dabo, the Ostrich-feathered shoes, the knife and sword of the Emir of Kano as well as symbols of authority pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
That an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the Respondents from taking further steps in connection with the matter or maintaining status quo of staying all action pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. “
“That it is further ordered that the Respondents are restraining from interfering with the functions, duties of the 1″ Applicant as the Emir of Kano pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated 28 May, 2024.” the order stated.
The motion on notice was adjourned to June 13, 2024 for hearing.
