News

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A sudden outbreak of gunfire at the mini palace of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, in Nasarawa GRA, sent residents fleeing in fear on Monday night. 

The palace, located just 300 meters from the Kano Government House, has been under surveillance by a combined security team due to heightened tensions in the area. 

Eyewitnesses reported hearing heavy gunfire coming from the direction of the palace, sparking concerns about an attack. Some commuters diverted their routes, fearing for their safety. 

While the source of the gunfire remains unclear, it is believed to be related to a court order issued earlier on Monday, directing the deposed Emir to vacate the palace. 

The Kano State High Court also ordered Mr. Ado-Bayero and four other deposed emirs to stop parading themselves as emirs, pending the hearing and determination of a motion filed by the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly. 

The incident has raised tensions in the already volatile region, with residents calling for calm and restraint.

The Kano State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Gumel, and the command’s spokesperson, Haruna Kiyawa, could not be reached for comment.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday commenced the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Edo State, despite a call from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to cancel the exercise due to damage to its secretariat, materials, and equipment. 

The exercise, which is meant to capture would-be voters yet to register ahead of the governorship election in Edo on September 21, will run for 10 days from May 27 to June 5, 2024, from 9 am to 3 pm daily, including weekends. 

Reacting to the APC’s call, the Edo INEC’s head of Voters Education and Publicity, Timidi Wariowei, said it is unfair to lay such an allegation against the election umpire.

“We have been to Oredo and we are here at the Ikpoba-Okha registration area which we are using as our state head office registration centre because of the flood disaster that happened at our head office on Friday,” said INEC National Commissioner Rhoda Gumus. 

Gumus expressed satisfaction with the exercise, urging registrants to be patient, adding that they will all be registered.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Anugbum Onuoha, also assured that INEC was well prepared for the exercise, and the flood disaster that destroyed some of the commission’s equipment could not stop the exercise. 

The APC had alleged that the People’s Democratic Party and INEC were conniving to manipulate the CVR in favour of the PDP, and that the CVR’s manipulation was the beginning of moves to rig the election in favour of the PDP.

However, INEC officials maintained that the exercise was going on smoothly and that nothing would make them fail.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

An 18-year-old pupil was detained on Monday after stabbing his schoolteacher in the face and fleeing the scene, authorities said.

The teacher from Lycee de l’Hyrome in Chemille-en-Anjou, western France, “suffered a facial injury that is not life-threatening”, according to a joint statement from the authorities, including the prefect and public prosecutor. 

The attack occurred on Monday morning, and the suspect quickly escaped through a window, abandoning his weapon.

He was later detained by gendarmes and municipal police.

The authorities stated that the young man was not previously known to the police and that counseling was provided to pupils and teachers after the attack. 

This incident is the latest in a series of school incidents involving attacks on teachers and school children by their peers in France in recent years.

In response to these incidents, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced measures in April to crack down on teenage violence in and around schools, as the government seeks to reclaim ground on security from the far-right ahead of upcoming European elections. 

An investigation into “attempted murder” has been launched.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The Kano State Police Command has announced its commitment to upholding a federal court order that prohibits the reinstatement of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano. 

In a press briefing held at the Bompai command headquarters on Saturday, Commissioner of Police Usaini Gumel assured that the command and its sister agencies would ensure peace and stability in the state, warning that anyone attempting to incite violence or disrupt public order would be dealt with decisively. 

The court order, granted by Justice A.M. Liman of the Federal High Court on Thursday night, restrains the Kano State Government from reinstating Emir Sanusi II, who was deposed in March 2020.

The order was issued despite Justice Liman’s reported absence from the country, currently being in the United States. 

The case was filed by Aminu Babba-Dan’Agundi, a traditional title holder, and Sarkin Dawaki Babba, who sought the court’s intervention to prevent the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi II. 

The police command’s vow to enforce the court order comes amidst heightened tensions in the state, with many fearing a potential outbreak of violence over the emirate dispute.

Commissioner Gumel’s warning serves as a clear message to those who may attempt to disrupt the peace, stating the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order in Kano State. 

As the situation continues to unfold, residents and observers alike are closely watching the developments, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the emirate tussle.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the dethroned Emir of Kano, has returned to the ancient town and taken up residence in a palace in Nassarawa, fueling confusion and tension.

His return came in the early hours of Saturday, when his aircraft landed at Aminu Kano International Airport at around 4:30 am.

Upon his arrival, Bayero was greeted by a large crowd of supporters, who chanted verses from the Holy Quran, including Surah Al-Fatihah: “It is You we worship and You we ask for help.”

His convoy then made its way through the city, eventually arriving at the mini-palace in Nassarawa, where he has taken up residence.

Meanwhile, Sanusi II has taken over the traditional Gidan Rumfa palace, which has been the seat of the Emir of Kano for centuries.

Both palaces are now under heavy security cover, as the situation remains tense and uncertain.

By Uzair Adam Imam  

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has ordered the immediate arrest of the deposed Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, accusing him of creating tension in the state with his return to the city. 

According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the former Emir was secretly brought into Kano City on the night of May 24, 2024, in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace just two days after being deposed by the governor. 

The statement further revealed that the new Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, arrived at the palace in the company of the Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker of the State Assembly, and other top government officials at around 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2024. 

As the Chief Security Officer of the state, Governor Abba Yusuf has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the deposed Emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to disrupt the relative peace enjoyed by the state.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Kano State House of Assembly has repealed the Kano State Emirate Councils Law, which had established five new emirates in Kano, Gaya, Karaye, Rano, and Bichi during the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The law’s repeal, following its third reading on Thursday, has elicited mixed reactions among Kano residents.

The abrogated law will require district heads who were elevated or appointed under it to revert to their previous positions.

When the law was initially established in 2019, there were fears that it might politicize the traditional emirate system.

Kano residents expressed their opinions on social media, with some viewing the repeal as a politically motivated move, while others saw it as a step towards restoring the integrity of the emirate council.

Critics of Ganduje’s administration argue that the creation of new emirates undermined the traditional system.

‘Every new government to bring with it new emir’

Dr. Ibrahim Siraj, a political analyst and lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, criticized the development, warning that it could lead to every new government appointing a new emir, thereby politicizing the emirate system.

“An interesting precedent has been set here in Kano: every change of government will bring with it a new emir and an entirely different emirate system,” he said.

He lamented that this could lead to numerous living but non-serving emirs, breaking the tradition of lifelong service.

Abdulyassar Abdulhamid expressed a broader concern, stating, “My concern is not about the emir’s removal or the installation of a new one. But a theory I have been nourishing for some time is giving way to reality.

“The struggle, the loudmouth(ness), the so talked-about intellectualism is about an excessive desire to be on a throne. Nothing more,” he added.

Ado Garba noted that those who supported the previous government’s decision to create new emirates were now seeing the repercussions.

“But because the majority of us are not sincere, they refused to see reasons. Now, here we are. Ganduje will never be forgiven by the good people of Kano,” he said.

Atiku Mu’amun Bello highlighted the anomaly of having one person potentially serving as both the 14th and 16th Emir of Kano.

“So we will just call him ‘former emir’ when he eventually leaves or is dethroned,” he added.

History repeats itselfUman Garba, reflecting on the historical context, stated, “There is nothing new on earth. Just history repeats itself. Let us simply accept the fate and move on.”

Abdulmalik Shu’aibu emphasized the importance of the emirate councils and questioned the motives behind the repeal by Governor Yusuf and Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

“If truly Governor Abba and Kwankwaso love Kano, they shouldn’t have underestimated the tremendous contribution by the emirate councils in the state,” he asserted.

Yusuf Umar Yaro described the repeal as political retaliation, arguing that it was not aimed at the development of the state or its people.

The repeal of the Kano State Emirate Councils Law has sparked significant debate, reflecting deep divisions over the role and politicization of traditional institutions in Kano.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A Federal High Court in Kano has issued an order halting the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.

The court’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by Alhaji Aminu Bappa Dan Agundi, also known as Sarkin Dawaki Babba, on Thursday.

Justice A.M Liman, the presiding judge, granted an interim injunction suspending the implementation of the repealed Kano Emirate law, which aimed to reinstate Sanusi II as the Emir.

The court ordered that the operation of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024, be suspended, affecting all offices and institutions created under the provision of the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019.

The court also restrained the 5th to 8th respondents (not specified in the report) from enforcing, executing, or implementing the repealed law.

Additionally, the court ordered the maintenance and preservation of the status quo by all parties involved, pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff’s originating motion.

The court also granted an order for an accelerated hearing on the matter.

This development means that Sanusi II’s reinstatement as Emir of Kano has been put on hold pending the court’s further decision.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has reappointed Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano, a position he was removed from in 2020.

The governor announced the appointment on Thursday at the Government House, shortly after signing the Kano Emirate Law as amended.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor, Speaker of the State Assembly, and other principal officers of the government.

With this development, Sanusi II has been officially reinstated as the Emir of Kano.

In a related development, Governor Yusuf has directed the five former emirs of Kano, Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye to vacate their palaces within 48 hours, starting from 5:00 pm on the day of the announcement.

They have also been ordered to hand over all properties in their possession to the Commissioner for Local Government/Deputy Governor.

This move is seen as a reversal of the decision made by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who had dethroned Sanusi II in 2020 following a personal rift.

More details to follow…

By Uzair Adam Imam 

On Thursday, the Department of State Service (DSS) denied media reports that it invaded the Emir of Kano’s Palace, saying they were untrue. 

The state Director of DSS, Mr Muhammad Alhassan, said this when he spoke with reporters in Kano.

Alhassan said that the DSS only deployed its personnel to the palace as part of a security arrangement for the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu’s visit to the Emir. 

He said, however, that the personnel were withdrawn following the postponement of the visit due to the Emir’s absence from town.

He said there was no truth in the report alleging that DSS operatives stormed the Emir’s Palace in connection with the recent development at the State House of Assembly. 

He urged Nigerians to disregard the false and malicious report, which he said was intended to cause unnecessary tension and misinformation.

On Thursday, the State House of Assembly repealed the Kano Emirates Council Law 2019, thereby dissolving the Emirates of Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano.