Appeal Court nullifies ruling restraining Bayero from parading self as Kano emir, orders fresh hearing

The court of appeal in Abuja has ordered a fresh hearing of the Kano state emirship tussle involving Aminu Bayero.

In a judgment delivered on Friday, a three-member panel of justices led by Mohammed Mustapha, faulted the verdict of the Kano state high court.

The high court had stopped Bayero and four other dethroned emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye from parading themselves as emirs.

The appellate court held that in the ruling delivered by Amina Adamu Aliyu, trial judge, on July 15, Bayero was denied fair hearing due to the “shoddy manner” the high court conducted its proceedings.

Mustapha said the high court was unfair to Bayero by conducting proceedings without serving him a hearing notice to enable him present his case.

The lead justice 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 Bayero amounted to a travesty of justice.

Consequently, the appellate court ordered that the case be remitted to the chief judge of the Kano state high court for reassignment to another judge for expeditious determination.

Lamido Sanusi was reinstated as emir by Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, at a colourful ceremony in the government house on May 24.

The Kano house of assembly repealed the law that Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of the state, used to depose and exile Sanusi in 2020.

The repeal paved the way for the reinstatement of Sanusi and the dethronement of Bayero.