A Kano State High Court has scheduled October 10, 2024, to rule on an application seeking to restrain the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, from renovating the Nasarawa mini palace, where he has been residing since his deposition earlier this year.
The application was brought by the Kano State Government, the Attorney General of Kano, and the Kano Emirate Council, who are seeking to prevent the deposed Emir from undertaking any construction work at the historic palace, which is located along State Road in Kano.
The applicants, represented by senior counsel Rilwanu Umar (SAN), filed the motion on September 12, requesting the court to issue an order barring Bayero from altering or refurbishing the palace, which has served as his residence since he was dethroned on May 25, 2024.
At the hearing on Wednesday, Habib Akilu, appearing for the applicants, informed the court that the defendant, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, was not represented, and that the substantive case was ready for hearing. Akilu then moved the interlocutory application, urging the court to halt any reconstruction or modifications to the palace pending the resolution of the legal dispute.
The Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Aboki, presiding over the matter, adjourned the case until October 10 for a ruling on the application and further mention of the substantive suit. She also ordered that all court documents be publicly posted on the court’s notice board to ensure that the respondent is duly informed of the proceedings.
On September 13, 2024, the court had already granted an interim injunction, temporarily prohibiting the former Emir from making any changes to the Nasarawa mini palace. This injunction directed both parties to maintain the status quo concerning the structural and architectural design of the palace until the court makes a final determination.
The case is part of the ongoing legal wrangling surrounding the aftermath of Bayero’s deposition, with both sides locked in a battle over the future of the Nasarawa palace, a site deeply connected to the Kano Emirate’s history and legacy.