In a recent statement, senior lawyers across the country, including Samuel Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, Chief (Dr.) Richard Oma Ahunauogho, SAN, and Mr. Israel Olorundare, SAN, have declined to comment on last Thursday’s ruling by a Federal High Court in Kano, as reported by Vanguard.
This ruling removed the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, from office.
The lawyers cited various reasons for their silence.
These include the pendency of the substantive case before the Court of Appeal and the unavailability of the full ruling in both electronic and hard copy formats.
They stated that they need to read, digest, and review the ruling before making any comments.
However, another senior lawyer, who doesn't want his mentioned, raised concerns.
He claimed that some politicians are using the Kano Emirate case to set up the judiciary for destruction and to create political crises in the state, similar to events in the South-West during the First Republic.
“I have also read various media reports on the latest ruling by Liman J. on the status of the Kano Emirate Councils and the claims by opposing parties on who is favored by Justice Liman’s Thursday ruling. I am, however, of the view that all such interpretations were unnecessary given the fact that the judge, Justice Liman, in the first place, has no subject-matter jurisdiction, under any guise, to entertain the matter, being a chieftaincy-related case.”
"As far as I am concerned, politicians are using this case to set the judiciary up for destruction. Otherwise, if there is nobody supporting Justice Liman at the Federal High Court, if there is no federal might behind him, by now, there should be a petition against him before the NJC for him to be removed,” he said.