The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Chief Judge of Kano State high court over conflicting orders issued by the two courts on the Kano emirship crisis.
The two heads of courts are to report in the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Thursday for the meeting.
Justice Ariwoola is the chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) which has the powers to hire and sanction erring judicial officers in the country.
The NJC had severally warned judicial officers against assuming jurisdiction in a suit which another court is already seized of its case facts to avoid conflicting court orders.
In a statement issued by the Director of Information of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Mr Soji Oye, on the matter, he said the invitation to the affected heads of court appears a prelude to whole scale investigation by the National Judicial Council to enable the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria have a proper briefing on the very disturbing development.
The statement reads: “Sequel to the conflicting judgments emanating from the Federal High Court, and Kano State High Court of Justice on the Chieftaincy matter in Kano State, The Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National Judicial Council, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, has summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, OFR, and Chief Judge of Kano State High Court, Hon. Justice Dije Aboki for an emergency meeting in his chambers tomorrow Thursday 30 May 2024.
“The meeting which is a prelude to whole scale investigation by the National Judicial Council is to enable the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria have a proper briefing on this very disturbing development by the two respective Chief Judges.
“There is strong indication that the National Judicial Council will conduct an emergency meeting next week where the subject Judges are likely to be invited and subjected to serious investigations,” he added.
It would be recalled that amidst conflicting court orders, heavily armed security officers comprising soldiers and police are presently on guard at the Nassarawa residence of the deposed Kano Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero.
The residence is located on the state road, Kano.
A high court presided over by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu had on Monday directed the police to evict the deposed Emir from the mini palace at the state road.
But BAR & BENCH WATCH checks revealed that the deposed Emir was still at the mini palace on Tuesday with presence of stern-looking armed soldiers and policemen around the mini palace observed.
This legal tussle followed a Federal High Court ruling last Thursday which restrained the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and suspended the law establishing the dissolved five emirates in the state.
The Kano State Police Command had vowed to enforce the court order restraining the state government from dissolving five newly created Emirates in the state.
However, in the fresh court order by Justice Aliyu, the other traditional rulers in the dissolved emirates were also restrained from parading themselves as emirs.
Nasiru Ado Bayero, Ibrahim Abubakar II, Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa, and Aliyu Ibrahim Gaya were restrained from parading themselves as emirs of Bichi, Gaya, Rano, and Karaye respectively.
Justice Aliyu emphasised the importance of maintaining the rule of law, stating that the court will ensure that its orders are respected and upheld until the substantive motion is heard.
The drama in the Kano Emirate tussle continued as both the deposed emir and the reinstated one received district heads in separate palaces on Monday.
Last week Friday, Governor Abba Yusuf signed a law dissolving the additional emirates created by the previous administration of Abdullahi Ganduje and reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the emir.
