Court stops Ganduje from constituting Kano council of chiefs

A High Court in Kano on Tuesday granted an interim injunction to stop the Kano State Government from constituting the new council of chiefs and appointing its members.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje last week signed a new law in Kano approving the creation of four new emirates and the appointment of first-class emirs for each of them.

The law also establishes the council of chiefs.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Ganduje appointed the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi, as the head of the council of chiefs, while the four newly appointed emirs are members.

The governor also ordered Mr Sanusi, who many believe the new law was aimed at whittling his powers, to call a meeting of the council.

Before the new law, the emir of Kano was the only first-class emir in the state.

An earlier similar law passed by the Kano parliament at the behest of Mr Ganduje was invalidated by the court.

The new law was presented to the parliament and passed into law within three days last week.

On Tuesday, however, the judge, Ahmed Badamosi, ordered a stoppage of the council of chiefs.

He also granted an order restraining Mr Ganduje from taking away the functions and powers of the applicants.

He then adjourned the case to December 17.

The plaintiffs in the suit are Kano kingmakers headed by the Madakin Kano, Yusuf Nabahani, and Muktar Adnan.

The defendants are the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly as the first respondent, Kano State House of Assembly as the second respondent, Governor of Kano State as third respondent, Attorney General of Kano State as fourth respondent and the four newly appointed emirs of Rano, Karaye, Gaya and Bichi.

Efforts to speak to Abba Anwar, the media aide to Mr Ganduje, on the court order were not successful.

More details later…