The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved its judgment on six appeals related to the ongoing dispute over the Kano emirship.
A three-member judicial panel, led by Justice Mohammed Mustapha, announced the decision on Wednesday after hearing arguments from both sides. Representing the Kano State government, lead counsel Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) and Okechukwu Edeze (SAN) urged the court to rule in favour of the appeals, while respondent counsel P.H. Ogbole (SAN) argued for their dismissal.
In addition, the panel dismissed three motions filed by Alhaji Aminu Baba Dan Agundi, ruling them to be without merit and attempts to amend his appellate briefs. The court imposed a penalty of N500,000 for each motion, totalling N1.5 million.
The appeals under review include Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero vs. Attorney General of Kano State and 10 others (appeal number CA/KN/166/M/2014) and Kano State House of Assembly and another vs. Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi and 6 others (appeal number CA/KN/126/M/2024).
Previously, a Federal High Court in Kano presided over by Justice Abdullahi Liman declared Governor Abba Yusuf’s action in deposing Emir Ado Bayero and appointing Muhammadu Sanusi II as “null and void.” The court also invalidated the Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill, 2024, which had effectively removed Bayero from his position. Justice Liman stated, “The balance of convenience favours the applicant, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi,” affirming the court’s earlier order.
In a separate development, another Kano State High Court issued an injunction preventing Ado Bayero from presenting himself as emir.
