National
Emirates Tussle:Deploying Troops To Enforce Court Order Unlawful— Says NBA
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Kano has cautioned against the potential breakdown of law and order in the state.
There has been tension in Kano since the state government moved to reinstate Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir.
Elanza news reported that Aminu Bayero was replaced as Emir on Friday.
Sanusi was deposed in 2020 after falling out with Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Kano at the time.
On Thursday, the Kano house of assembly repealed the 2019 law used to remove Sanusi and balkanise the emirate into five jurisdictions.
The new emirate law stipulated the sack of all the Emirs in the jurisdictions and a restoration of the old order.
One Emir will now be overseeing all of Kano.
Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano, had given the sacked monarchs 48 hours to vacate their palaces.
The Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Karaye, and Gaya have complied with the directive.
On Saturday, Bayero returned to the city and moved into a palace in Nassarawa LGA of the state.
A squad of soldiers that had been protecting Bayero before he was dethroned, rode with him from the airport to the palace.
Subsequently, the governor ordered Bayero’s arrest after the deposed monarch arrived in Kano to a hero’s welcome from a horde of his supporters.
Aminu Gwarzo, Kano deputy governor, had blamed Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), for allegedly facilitating the return of Bayero to the palace by providing him with two private jets — but the NSA denied the claim.
Meanwhile, on May 23, a federal high court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.
Usaini Gumel, commissioner of police in Kano, had disclosed that security agencies would obey the court order.
‘DEEPLY CONCERNED’
In a statement, Sagir Gezawa, NBA chairman in Kano, said the association is “deeply concerned about these developments in many ways”.
The NBA said it is the constitutional duty of a state assembly to legislate and once passed, it remains the prerogative of a governor to assent to such law.
“Once assented to by the governor, it has become a Law and its implementation is to be done by state apparatus and of course enforced by a competent court of law,” Gezawa said.
“It’s further within the purview of courts to interpret such law to be in tandem with other existing laws or the constitution.
“In doing so, we urge our members to act responsibly in approaching courts with competent jurisdiction.
“A court order, once given, is sacrosanct and must be obeyed.
“However, it must be noted that while the court has its own mechanism of enforcing its order, it’s not within the powers of the Nigerian Army to deploy troops to enforce court order. This is a sad reminder of the military dictatorship and must be condemned.
“Anyone found wanting or in disobedience of a court order (which is declaratory in nature) must first be proved to have been notified of the existence of the said court order by issuance of Form 48 and subsequently Form 49 notifying such person of the consequences of his or her actions.
“This is in line with the Sheriff and Civil Processes Act and Laws of the various States for enforcing court judgments.
“Engaging security apparatus without the officers of the Deputy Sherriff’s Department of the relevant court that made the order may appear to be self-help which must also be condemned.
“As an association therefore, we call on all state actors, to be mindful of their oaths of office and for the security agencies, their scope of duties so as not to make mockery of our judicial system.”
The NBA said the actions of the state actors “may breach the security and peace” in Kano and “they shall be held accountable in this life or the next”.
This decision came hours after the President met with service chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State amid the ongoing political crisis in the region.
Tinubu announced the proclamation during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for a period of six months.
The President appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retired) as a military administrator to oversee the state’s affairs for the initial six-month period. Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to justify the proclamation. This section defines a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster, allowing the government to suspend normal constitutional procedures to restore order.
A state of emergency grants the President the authority to implement immediate regulations to ensure public safety and maintain order.
For nearly two months, the political feud and power struggle between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his former political protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, have escalated over control of the political machinery in the oil-rich state. The tension has reportedly led to pipeline explosions, while civil servants have threatened mass protests against the Martins Amaewhule-led faction in the State House of Assembly, which remains loyal to Wike.
Tinubu said, “The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalisation of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.
“With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
“In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.
“The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President.
President Bola Tinubu will address the nation at 7 pm Tuesday in a nationwide broadcast on the situation in Rivers State.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Tuesday titled ‘President Tinubu broadcasts to the nation.’
“The NTA and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria will transmit the broadcast at 7 pm.
“All TV and radio stations are requested to link up with the broadcast,” it read.
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land of the Peoples Democratic Party’s national secretariat, which is situated in Abuja.
Wike issued the revocation notice in a letter dated March 13, 2025, titled, “Notice of right of occupancy with file no: MISC 81346 in respect of plot no: 243 within central area district, Abuja,” on Tuesday.
It was signed by the Director, Land Administration (FTC), Chijioke Nwankwoeze.
According to him, the opposition party has failed to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, despite many publications in several national dailies and electronic media to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on its property.
The letter read, “I have been directed to refer to the above Right of Occupancy granted to PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT and inform you that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from Ist of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their property.
“You would please note that the said breaches by PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.”
The minister added that the FCTA administration he led will henceforth take immediate possession of the party secretariat until all bills are settled.
More details later…