The Court of Appeal in Abuja has described the manner in which the Kano High Court ruled in favour of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero in the legal tussle over who is the bonafide Emir of Kano between Muhammadu Sanusi II and Aminu Ado Bayero as “shoddy.”
Delivering the judgment today, January 10, Justice Mohammed Mustapha accused the High Court of having acted unjustly by not notifying Muhammadu Sanusi about the hearing, thereby denying him the opportunity to present his case.
“The conduct of the proceedings without notifying Sanusi amounted to a travesty of justice.”
Justice Mohammed Mustapha ordered a fresh hearing in the legal dispute concerning the Kano Emirate, involving Ado Bayero and Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Justice Mustapha stressed that it is the court’s duty to ensure fairness by allowing all parties in the Kano Emirate dispute to present their grievances.
The Appeal Court went on to criticize the “shoddy arrangement” under which the Kano High Court ruled against Sanusi without giving him a chance to respond.
“The principles of natural justice demand that no one should be condemned unheard.”
As a result, the Appeal Court returned the case to the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court, to be reassigned to another judge for an impartial and expedited hearing.
Justice Mustapha however，did not award any costs against the respondents.
The legal dispute between Bayero and Sanusi is centered on issues surrounding the leadership and governance of the Kano Emirate.