The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed strong disapproval of the conflicting orders issued by courts in Kano regarding the Emirate tussle.
NBA President Yakubu Maikyau characterized the actions of judges from the Federal High Court and Kano State High Court as a “disgrace and shame to the legal profession.”
In a statement, Maikyau said,
“The conduct of counsel and the courts in the handling of the proceedings which culminated in the orders issued by the Federal High Court, the Kano State High Court and again the Federal High Court, in circus, have brought utter disgrace and shame to the profession – have exposed the entire legal profession in Nigeria to public ridicule and opprobrium.
“The damage is one that would take the legal profession a long time to recover from. It is unfortunate and was totally uncalled for.
“For a country whose legal resources and expertise have for several decades been exported and positively impacted not only the African continent but the world at large, it is completely unacceptable that the processes of our courts would be deployed in the manner we have witnessed in the last couple of days, on a subject matter that is as clear as chieftaincy dispute.
“This is a subject that has been sufficiently dealt with by legislation and case law, leaving no one confused about the jurisprudence on the subject – both procedural and substantive.
“Without prejudice to the subsisting actions before both the Federal High Court and the Kano State High Court, it is my considered view that there is an urgent need to scrutinise the professional conducts of both counsel and the judges involved in these matters.”
The NJC has taken steps to address the situation.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Chief Judge of Kano State High Court, Justice Dije Aboki, for an emergency meeting.
This meeting serves as a prelude to a comprehensive NJC investigation, during which the subject judges may be invited and subjected to serious scrutiny.
The conflicting orders arose in the context of the Emir of Kano Sanusi Muhammadu Sanusi II’s position.
Justice S. A. Amobeda of the Federal High Court ordered Sanusi’s eviction from the palace, while Justice Adamu Aliyu of the State High Court restrained security agencies from evicting the monarch or seizing his symbol of authority.
Additionally, a Kano High Court previously ordered the police to evict the deposed Emir Ado Bayero from the Nasarawa Palace.
As tensions persist, Kano Governor Abba Yusuf has imposed stringent restrictions on public gatherings, banning all forms of public demonstrations in the state.
