By Abiola Olawale
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered a new hearing in the ongoing legal dispute surrounding the contested Kano Emirate between the Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II and the 15th Emir of Kano Ado Bayero.
A three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Mustapha held that the judgment delivered by the lower court on July 15 is a nullity, as Bayero’s rights to a fair hearing were breached.
The Appellate Court, in a judgment delivered on Friday, held that Bayero was denied a fair hearing due to what it described as “a shoddy manner in which a Kano High Court” conducted proceedings against him.
Justice Mohammed Mustapha, who delivered the lead judgement, held that the lower court was unfair to Bayero by conducting proceedings without serving him a hearing notice to enable him to present his case.
Justice Mustapha also held that all courts of law are bound to ensure justice for all parties by giving them equal opportunities, adding that the conduct of the proceedings against Sanusi amounted to a travesty of justice.
The Court of Appeal, therefore, ordered that the case be remitted to the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court to be reassigned to another judge for expeditious determination.
It would be recalled that Kano State has been witnessing a period of turbulence due to the ongoing conflict over the leadership of the Kano Emirate.
The tussle primarily involves two individuals, Sanusi and Aminu Ado Bayero, both of whom have held the title of Emir of Kano.
Sanusi was initially dethroned in 2020 by the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who then appointed Bayero.
However, in May 2024, the Kano State House of Assembly repealed the law that had created multiple emirates, effectively reinstating Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Since then, the matter has been taken to several courts as each party lay claim to the historical Royal throne.
