The Kano State Government has ordered the demolition of a section of the palace of the deposed Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero.
This comes shortly after Thursday’s Federal High Court’s ruling setting aside the steps taken in repealing the Kano Emirates Council Law.
Briefing journalists on Thursday in Kano, the State Attorney General (AG), Haruna Isah Dederi, said the state government has directed the police to take over the Emir’s palace in Nassarawa LGA. He stated that the state government has concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the palace, including demolishing “dilapidated walls”.
“Following this Court’s ruling, the Kano State Government has directed the State Commissioner of Police to remove the deposed emir of the 8 metropolitan local governments from the government property where he is trespassing, as the government has already concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the property, including the demolishing and reconstruction of the dilapidated wall fence, with immediate effect,” he said.
“The Kano State Government acknowledges the ruling by the Federal High Court regarding the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law, 2024, and views the same as upholding the rule of law.
“By the ruling of the court, it has unequivocally reaffirmed the validity of the law passed by Kano State House of Assembly and assented to by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State on Thursday 23rd May 2024 by 5:10 pm.
“This part of the judgement is very fundamental to the entire matter. A further implication of the ruling is that all actions done by the Government before the emergence of the interim order of the honourable court, are equally validated.
“This means that the abolishing of the five emirates created in 2019 is validated and the deposition of the five emirs is also sustained by the federal high court.
“By implication, this means that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the Emir of Kano. The judge also granted our application for the stay of proceedings until the court of appeal deals with the appeal before it on jurisdiction.
“Happily, the signing of the law and the reinstatement of His Highness, Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, were done on 23rd May 2024 before the emergence of the interim order, which was served on us on Monday 27th May 2024.”
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had on May 25, 2024, ordered the eviction and arrest of Bayero, accusing him of creating tension within the state despite his removal. However, security agents including soldiers and policemen guarded the mini palace, preventing the arrest of Bayero.
