Kano: Court stops Emir Ado Bayero from reconstructing mini palace

Justice Dije Andy Aboki has granted an ex parte order restraining the rehabilitation of the Nasarawa mini palace, currently occupied by the 15th Kano Emir, Alh. Aminu Ado Bayero.

The interim injunction followed the ex parte motion filed by the Kano State Government, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, and the Kano Emir Council on Friday, in response to the planned rebuild of the palace.

Justice Aboki, who also serves as Chief Justice of Kano State, ordered the parties in the suit to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the case.

The court said, “An order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the defendant, his agents, privies, or anyone acting under the instruction or command of the defendant, from demolishing, renovating, repairing, reconstructing, or refurbishing the property known as Gidan Sarki Nasarawa, located along State Road, Kano, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice before this court.”

The court ordered that the monarch be served with the court processes by substituted service and fixed October 2 for the hearing on the motion on notice.

Bayero has been holding traditional courts at the mini palace for the last four months since his return to Kano, despite the state government’s abolition of his reign.

Although Bayero is still challenging his deposition at the Court of Appeal, two months ago Justice Amina Aliyu ordered Bayero to vacate the Nasarawa mini palace, which is owned by the state government, and surrender all traditional instruments to the concerned authority.

Following Justice Aliyu’s judgement, the state government declared its intention to demolish the mini palace, deploying bulldozers to pull the structures down. However, the attempt was thwarted by heavy security presence.

The resurgence of the prolonged tussle resurfaced a few days ago when a planned structural and architectural design of the palace emerged, accompanied by an official statement unveiling plans to renovate the old traditional edifice.