Kaduna court adjourns Emir of Zazzau dethronement case
A High Court sitting in Kaduna State has adjourned ruling in a suit filed by former kingmaker of Zazzay Emirate, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Aminu, seeking the dethronement of the 19th Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli on Tuesday.
Aminu who was a former kingmaker that took part in the appointment process of the Emir, had summoned the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and 13 others to the state High Court, seeking the removal of Bamalli as the Emir of Zazzau.
Among the 13 other respondents in the case were the Emir, Bamalli, and the late Limamin Kona, Malam Sani Aliyu, who died in July 2021.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai appointed Bamalli who was a former Nigerian Ambassador to Thailand the 19 Emir of Zazzau on Wednesday, 7, 2020.
It was said, however, that the appointment was at variance with recommendation made to the Governor by Zazzau Emirate Kingmakers.
Aminu, who held the position of Wazirin Zazzau, a title that qualified him as one of the kingmakers, is seeking nullification of the appointment of Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli and his removal as the Emir of Zazzau.
Counsels for the respondents had filed preliminary objections before the High Court 4 presided over by Justice Isah Aliyu, noting that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case even as the plaintiff lacks the locus standi to challenge the Emir’s appointment and enthronement.
After the court session, counsel for the Zazzau Emirate and the Emir, Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, while speaking with journalists, said they were challenging the locus standi of the plaintiff to institute the case because “he is not a member of any of the Zazzau’s ruling houses and he did not contest the Emirship position.”
He said, “So, he is just a ‘bizzy body’ because he is not a member of the ruling house. He didn’t contest the position and he is ruling the custodian of the Zazzau Emirate’s custom. He was already removed as a Chief in the Emirate.
“Also, the court lacks jurisdiction to hear this case and we have filed our preliminary objections and we are now waiting for the court’s ruling on that. The Judge adjourned the case, but he has not given a date for the ruling yet.”
Also speaking, counsel for the Plaintiff, B.M Bello, said his client was challenging the qualification of Emir Bamali and wanted his appointment nullified and removed from office as Emir of Zazzau.
“Mainly we are in court because we are challenging the appointment of Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as the Emir of Zazzau. Because we believe that, as it were, the extant laws, the relevant tradition and custom were not followed in his appointment by the authority,” he said.
He said the respondents’ counsels had filed preliminary objections, noting that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case.
“Now, the court has adjourned for ruling on the matter, as to whether it has jurisdiction or not,” Bello added.