*Tijjaniyya Urges Sanusi To Reject Reinstatement
*Eid-el-Kabir: Police Ban Durbar Activities In Kano
THE Federal High Court in Kano, on Thursday, June 13, ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the human rights violation case filed by the dethroned Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and senior councillor in the emirate, Aminu Dan’agundi.
Justice A. M. Liman said the court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the case instituted by Dan’agundi against the implementation of Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, on the basis of which Bayero was dethroned and Muhammad Sanusi 11 reinstated by Governor Abba Yusuf.
Dan’agundi (Sarkin Dawaki Babba), through his Counsel, Mr. Ibrahim Aliyu-Nasarawa, filed a motion ex-parte, dated May 23, seeking the court’s order to restrain the respondents from enforcing, implementing and operationalising the Kano State Emirate Repeal law and reinstating Sanusi II.
The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government; Kano State House of Assembly; Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly; Attorney-General of Kano State and state Commissioner of Police.
Others are the Inspector General of Police (IGP); Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Service (DSS).
Justice Liman, in a ruling, relying on Section 42 (1) and Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, held that the court has jurisdiction to entertain the matter bothering on the applicant’s fundamental rights.
He subsequently adjourned the matter until June 14 for hearing of all pending application.
Earlier, Counsel to the applicant, Mr. M. S. Waziri, argued that the court has jurisdiction to entertain and give fair hearing to the fundamental right suit, saying: “The applicant ought to have been involved, as a member of the Kano State Kingmakers, in reinstating the new emir of Kano”
Counsel to the Kano State Government and Attorney General of the state, Mr. Mahmoud Abubakar-Magaji (SAN), urged the court to decline jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Recall that the court had on May 23, granted an interim injunction directing parties to maintain status quo ante, the passage and assent of the Bill, pending the hearing of the rights application.
The court also restrained the 5th to 8th respondents from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalising the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.
But Yusuf, on the same day (May 23), dethroned Ado-Bayero and reinstated Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano, four years after he was dethroned by former governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
In a related development, leader of the Tijjaniyya Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass, has advised Sanusi to follow the footstep of his grandfather by rejecting his reinstatement as the Emir of Kano.
Sanusi is the leader of the Tijjaniyya Movement in Nigeria, but the Islamic sect, in a letter dated June 3 and signed by its supreme leader, Nyass, urged the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor to decline his reinstatement and follow the example of his grandfather, Muhammadu Sanusi 1, also an Emir of Kano and first leader of the sect in Nigeria, who reportedly rejected an offer for his reinstatement after he was similarly dethroned.
The letter stated: “We, the family of Shaykhul Islam, Gausuzzaman, Qudwatuna ilaa Rabbina, Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass of Kaolack, Senegal, are compelled to speak out on the recent developments in the Kano Emirate, our proud state, as a centre of (the) Tijjaniya brotherhood.
“The reinstatement of Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II as Emir of Kano by the Kano State Government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has raised concerns about the rule of law and the welfare of the citizenry.
“We draw inspiration from the exemplary leadership of (the) late Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi, who refused to be swayed by personal interests and declined reinstatement after his dethronement.
“We, therefore, urge Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi 11 to follow his grandfather’s footsteps and prioritise the peace and stability of Kano.
“We kindly call on all to put the interest of the people first and work towards a peaceful resolution that is legally accepted.
“We pray for the divine guidance and wisdom for our leaders to reign in Kano State and Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Command has banned Durbar activities during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in the state.
A statement issued on Thursday, June 13, by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Usaini Gumel, explained that the ban became necessary for the Police Command to sustain the peace, in conjunction with all the relevant security stakeholders.
Gumel said: “In furtherance, a ban on all contending parties has been placed restraining both from conducting Durbar activities for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.”
He, however, advised worshippers to conduct their normal Eid prayers at the various designated praying grounds, as was traditionally done in the past, adding: “In this trying period, the Police will enforce the existing court order and prevail on the two contending parties regarding the Kano emirship tussle and urge them to remain apart and respect the court order.”
The Police commissioner said the Command would looked forward to continued collaboration and cooperation from all stakeholders to collectively work together to build a safer and more secure environment.
He urged the general public to report any suspicious movement of persons or items to the nearest Police station.
