By Abiola Olawale
The recent events surrounding the royal seat of the Emir of Kano have been marked by a series of dramatic developments in the past few days.
This is as the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has threatened to take legal action against Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
Ribadu in a formal correspondence filed by his legal representatives at Aliyu & Musa Chambers, demanded that the Deputy governor should retract the statement he made, alleging that he provided two private jets to deposed Emir Ado Bayero.
He also demanded a public apology, which should be published in five national dailies in the country.
It would be recalled that Gwarzo, while speaking in Kano on Saturday accused Ribadu of supporting deposed Ado Bayero. The deputy governor said Ribadu allegedly provided the aircraft that brought Bayero back to Kano.
However, while reacting formally, Ribadu said: “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 talking 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 to damage 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 a barrage of telephone calls both within and outside Nigeria from friends and associates who felt disappointed in him because of the false allegation that 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:
“i. retract the libellous allegation similarly you made it as well as give it wide media circulation; and
“ii. issue a public apology in five National dailies with wide national coverage and on popular online platforms. Note that if you fail to do so, our client will be compelled to seek redress in a court of law.”
The New Diplomat reports that Governor Abba Yusuf had dissolved the five Emirates Council and reinstated Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano. This came after the Governor signed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 into law.
It would be recalled also that the Federal High Court sitting in Kano state had granted an ex-parte order halting the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.
The court in its ruling ordered the Kano State Government to desist from enforcing the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law.
