Mr. Abdul Muhammed (SAN) and other counsel defending the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, in the ongoing Kano emirship dispute have withdrawn their legal representation before the State High Court. 

The applicants in this case are Kano State’s Attorney General, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly.

The petitioners’ counsel, Ibrahim Isah-Wangida, submitted an ex parte motion on May 27.

They are asking the court to prevent Ado-Bayero and four other deposed emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye from acting as emirs.

The respondents are Ado-Bayero, Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero Bichi Emir, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar ll, Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa, Emir of Rano, and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya, Emir of Gaya.

Others include the Inspector General of Police, the Director of State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army.

When the issue came up for hearing, Muhammed, counsel for Ado-Bayero, informed the court that he had an affidavit of fact dated July 3, along with a notice of appeal and a plea to delay proceedings.

He urged the court to postpone proceedings while awaiting the appellate court’s hearing and decision on the motion.

“We were served with the court processes this morning by the applicants,” he said.

He wanted an adjournment so that they could react, but the court denied his request.

“My Lord, myself, and other counsel representing the first respondent apply for the withdrawal of our legal services and appearances,” he said.

Hassan Tanko-Kyaure, counsel for the third, fourth, and fifth respondents, asked for an extension of time on July 2 and filed a counter-affidavit in response to the originating action.

He sought the court to overturn the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, claiming that due procedure was not followed.

Tanko-Kyaure also requested that the court dismiss the applicant’s application at a cost of N1 billion.

He said, “The motion refers to a proposed notice of appeal, not a notice of appeal. It shows that the affidavit of facts is just to delay the proceedings. My Lord, the business of today is the hearing of all pending applications.”

Fatogun urged the court to dismiss the third, fourth, and fifth respondents’ applications on the Kano Emirate Repeal Law, as the issue is not before the court.

Earlier, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu denied the respondent’s application for a stay of proceedings.

“The respondent did not disclose any special fact to warrant any stay of proceedings,” Adamu-Aliyu said.

The judge deferred the case until July 18 to determine an application for extension of time, notice of preliminary objection, setting aside an ex parte order, joinder application, and judge’s recusal, among other things.