The Minna High Court has restrained the newly-appointed Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora in Niger State, Alhaji Mohammed Barau, from parading himself as the Emir of Kontagora.

Barau emerged as the new monarch following an election process by the kingmakers of the Emirate on September 19, 2021. The court, presided over by Justice Abdullahi Mikailu, gave the order on Tuesday after hearing a motion ex parte moved by counsel to 15 indigenes, who filed a suit against the Emir’s emergence.

The plaintiffs prayed the court for an interim injunction restraining Barau as the substantive Emir of Kontagora, pending the determination of the motion on notice before it.

Also, the court restrained the defendants, the Niger State Attorney-General, and the Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs from installing or issuing staff of office to Barau as Sarkin Sudan Kontagora.

In a five-paragraph affidavit, one Adam Nasir had said that after the first defendant/respondent was declared as the Emir of Kontagora, the youths staged a protest over the selection process.

The affidavit stated that the 2nd and 3rd defendants gave a certificate of recognition to the 1st defendant on October 8, 2021 at a time tension had built up in the emirate.

Stating that they were eligible to contest the stool, the plaintiffs alleged that due process was not followed during the selection of Barau as the new Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora.