Tag: Kano State

Emmanuel Clement.

National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has expressed intention to take legal action for defamation against Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.

Gwarzo mentioned that Ribadu supported Ado Bayero in coming back to Kano.

In a formal correspondence, issued by his legal representatives at Aliyu & Musa Chambers, Ribadu has requested an apology from the deputy governor.

“We act as solicitors to Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who presently occupies the exalted position of the National Security Adviser (“our client”) and on whose instruction we write this letter.

“The attention of our client was drawn to a video clip being shared on different social media platforms wherein you granted an interview at Emir’s Palace in Kano on Saturday, the 25th day of May 2024, in a very calm atmosphere, and without any provocation whatsoever, falsely accusing our client of using his office to kill the people of Kano State and maim their properties. In the clip, you were shown to be saying in Hausa.

“Your false accusations against our client portraying his office as an appendage of a political party and a willing tool to cause chaos in Kano is false and done with the intention of damaging the hard-earned reputation of our client in the eyes of the right-thinking members of the society and indeed it has succeeded in doing so.

“In all the places he has served, our client has never been accused of any wrongdoing. Given this illustrious background, it is inconceivable that someone would harbour the thought that our client would descend his exalted office so low as to interfere in the local tussle of the Kano Emirate.

“The wide coverage you gave your interview has caused serious embarrassment to our client and his family. Since the publication, our client has been receiving barrage of telephone calls both within and outside Nigeria from friends and associates who felt disappointed in him because of the false allegation owing to the fact that it came from a person occupying the office of Deputy Governor of Kano State.”

Our client and his office take your allegations seriously and by this letter, our client is demanding that you provide irrefutable evidence to substantiate your claims. If you have no proof, our client demands you to within 24 hours.

The legal team went further to urge the deputy governor to retract the libellous allegation in a similar manner you made it as well as give it wide media circulation and issue a public apology in five National dailies with wide national coverage and on popular online platforms, stating that if such demands are not met, their client will be compelled to seek redress in a court of law.

Emmanuel Clement.

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Thursday issued an ex-parte order preventing Governor Abba Yusuf from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The court also halted the implementation of a new law that abolished the four emirates of Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano.

The order, given by Justice Liman, directs all involved parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit filed by the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Aminu Babba-Dan Agundi. The suit challenges the recent actions taken by the Kano State government.

The defendants in the suit include the Kano State government, the Kano State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the State Assembly, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Security.

“Parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage of and assent of the bill into law pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application,” Justice Liman stated.

The court’s decision comes on the same day Governor Yusuf announced Emir Sanusi’s re-appointment shortly after signing the Kano Emirate Council (Amended) bill into law. The signing ceremony took place at the government house in the presence of the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Ismaila Falgore, and other principal officers.

Governor Yusuf argued that the new law, which abolishes the emirates created by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, would promote unity and socio-economic development in Kano.

“The return of Emir Sanusi will propel peace and prosperity and restore the lost glory of the state and its rich cultural heritage,” the governor said.

However, Justice Liman in his ruling emphasised the need to address the constitutional and jurisdictional issues raised by the suit.

He said, “In order to maintain the peace and security of the state, an Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court is granted restraining the Respondents from enforcing, executing, implementing, and operationalising the Kano State Emirate Law Council (Repeal) Law.”

The case has been adjourned to June 3, 2024, for the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application. The court has directed that the Plaintiff/Applicant may serve their originating motion and other court processes on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Abuja, outside the jurisdiction of the court.

Governor Yusuf had given Aminu Ado Bayero and four other former first-class chiefs 48 hours to vacate their palaces and hand over all emirate properties to the deputy governor’s office. This directive is now in limbo due to the court’s intervention.