JUST IN: CJN summons Chief judges over Kano emirate tussle

In response to the recent legal unrest surrounding the Kano Emirate, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), has summoned the Chief Judges of the Federal High Court and the Kano State High Court.

This summons comes after the two courts issued contradictory temporary injunctions, which caused a great deal of confusion and unease in the state.

The CJN intervened to restore order and coherence because the conflicting rulings had exacerbated the ongoing legal and political disputes over the Kano Emirate.

The status and power dynamics within the Kano Emirate are at the centre of the conflicts, which have resulted in conflicting court rulings that have made matters more difficult.

Justice Ariwoola stressed in his summons on Wednesday the significance of "judicial coordination and the necessity for the judiciary to present a unified front, particularly in cases of substantial public interest.
“The upcoming meeting with the chief judges aims to clarify jurisdictional boundaries and prevent future occurrences of conflicting judicial orders.
"The state government's decision to remove Emir Ado Bayero and reinstate Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II has brought the situation in Kano to the attention of the country, and many stakeholders are calling for a swift resolution.”

There was a significant security presence on Saturday at Gidan Sarki Nasarawa, which is home to Aminu Ado Bayero, the deposed emir of Kano, including police, soldiers, and representatives of the Department of State Services.

As part of efforts to bolster security following the struggle for power in the emirate, one of our correspondents who was following the developments also saw some soldiers at the home of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, the current emir of Kano, as well as at the Kano State Government House and other key locations within the city.

As a result of a new law that eliminated four emirates that had been previously established by Abdullahi Ganduje, the previous governor of Kano, Governor Abba Yusuf, appointed Sanusi as the 16th Emir of the state.