A Kano High court presided over by Justice Nasiru Saminu has ordered Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi ll to maintain status quo in respect of the interim order issued against the governor on May 10.
Justice Saminu ordered all the parties in the suit to maintain the status quo, pending the hearing of motion on notice.
The court also ruled that the order issued on May 10, restraining Kano state Government from appointing four new Emirates in the state was still subsisting, pending the determination of the motion on notice.
NAN reports that the court had through the ex-parte application by the applicant, Rabiu Gwarzo restrained Ganduje and all other respondents in the case from appointing or recognising any purported emir under the Kano state Emirs Appointment And Disposition Amendment Law 2019, pending the hearing of motion on notice.
Earlier, Counsel to the applicant, Abubakar Mahmud, SAN, informed the court that the respondents have not complied with the court order earlier issued,
He explained that the appointment and presentation of staff of office to the four new emirs were made on May 13 and May 14 after they were restrained on May 10.
But reacting in a statement by its Attorney General, Barrister Ibrahim Mukthar, the State Government denied reports of the court ruling.
Barr Mukhtar said: “The claim that a Kano State High Court of Justice has nullified the appointments of new Emirs in Bichi, Gaya, Rano, and Karaye, there is no such order, there is no such decision. Is false and it is wrong for anybody to say that.
“We told the court that all that they are claiming to stop has been completed. That is the passage of the law, the law has been passed, Emirs were appointed and staff of office was given to respective Emirs and they have assumed their respective offices in their various Emirates. So that is what we told the court. These claims, the prayers of the plaintiffs, Kano state government has competed for everything before service of the court order. We cannot rely on social media for such information.
“You have to be served as a party and we have not been served. The office of the governor of Kano state was served yesterday (Tuesday), my own office as, Attorney General, was served on Monday and we told the court that we need time to prepare our response to their applications. The matter was adjourned to the 21st of June for hearing.
“How then can one decide a matter before taking evidence? Judgment can only come after evidence, after argument of various counsels. We have not even filed our responses and we have only received our service of the court order yesterday and we need time in accordance with the rules of the court.
“By the rules of the court motions are entitled to 7 days and substantive applications are entitled to 21 days. The court applied the law and adjourned the matter to 21st of June”.
Nigeria Everyday reports that the face-off between Ganduje and Sanusi led to the creation of four new emirates with the subsequent appointment of four new emirs and presentation of the staff of office to them.
Under the new arrangement, Kano emirate headed by Sanusi has 10 local governments: Kano Municipal, Tarauni, Dala, Nassarawa, Fagge, Gwale, Kumbotso, Ungogo, Dawakin Kudu and Minjibir.
Rano emirate under Tafida Abubakar-Ila
will control Rano, Bunkure, Kibiya, Takai, Sumaila, Kura, Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Kiru, Bebeji. while Gaya emirate with Ibrahim Abdulkadir atop it has Gaya, Ajingi, Albasu, Wudil, Garko, Warawa, Gezawa, Gabasawa LGAs.
Karaye, Rogo, Gwarzo, Kabo Rimin Gado, Madobi, Garun Malam LGAs will be under the Karaye emirate headed Ibrahim Abubakar II.
Bichi emirate headed by Aminu Ado Bayero will control Bichi, Bagwai, Shanono, Tsanyawa, Kunchi, Makoda, Danbatta, Dawakin Tofa, Tofa local governments.