According to a report by Channels TV, in a fresh dramatic twist in the ongoing Kano emirate legal battle, the legal team representing Aminu Ado Bayero, the 15th Emir of Kano, withdrew their services on Thursday.
The unexpected move by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Abdul Mohammed and his team has added a new layer of complexity to the high-stakes dispute.
During the session at the Kano State High Court, Abdul Mohammed presented an affidavit of fact dated July 3, which included a notice of appeal and a motion to stay proceedings.
He requested the court to pause the case until the appeal was heard, stating, "We were served with the court processes this morning by the applicants." Mohammed also asked for an adjournment to allow his team time to respond to the new applications, a request the court denied.
Following the court's refusal to grant the adjournment, Mohammed expressed his discontent and announced the withdrawal of his team. "My Lord, myself and other counsel representing the first respondent apply for the withdrawal of our legal services and appearances," he declared before leading a walkout from the courtroom.
Sanusi Musa, another SAN on Bayero’s legal team, confirmed the collective withdrawal of the lawyers representing the first respondent. This departure signifies a pivotal moment in the legal proceedings surrounding the Kano emirate dispute.
Meanwhile, Hassan Tanko-Kyaure, representing the third, fourth, and fifth respondents, filed a motion for an extension of time to respond to the originating motion and sought to invalidate the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, arguing it was passed without due process. He also called for the dismissal of the applicant’s application with a cost of N1 billion.
Counsel for the applicant, Eyitayo Fatogun, countered these motions, urging the court to proceed with the hearing as scheduled. He argued that the motions presented were merely tactics to delay the proceedings.
Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, who is presiding over the case, rejected the motion for a stay of proceedings, stating, "The respondent did not disclose any special fact to warrant any stay of proceedings."
She set the next hearing date for July 18 to rule on various pending applications, including an extension of time and a preliminary objection.
In addition, Justice Adamu-Aliyu prohibited all involved lawyers from speaking to the media until the case is resolved. The applicants in this matter, represented by the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly, have sought a motion to prevent Bayero and four other dethroned emirs from presenting themselves as emirs.
The respondents include 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.
The case also names the Inspector General of Police, the Director of State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army as respondents.