The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, fixed June 6 to deliver judgment on the appeals and cross-appeal in respect of the Gwandu emirate tussle after 20 years.
The appeals are specifically challenging the seven-year-old order of the Sokoto Division of the Court of Appeal, which reinstated HRH Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo as the 19th Emir of Gwandu.
Since the order for the reinstatement of Jokolo was made, the Kebbi State government has refused to obey the order.
HRH Alhaji Jokolo was deposed in 2005 and he immediately challenged his dethronement at the State High Court.
In 2014, a State High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi ordered Alhaji Jokolo’s immediate reinstatement, having been satisfied that he was illegally deposed and that due process was not followed.
Not satisfied with the judgment, Kebbi State Government and Jokolo’s successor filed an appeal challenging the decision of the State High Court.
In 2016, the three-member Justices of the appellate court also held that the deposition of the Emir contravene Sections 6 and 7 of the Chief Appointment and Deposition Law of the State because the Governor neither made an inquiry into the allegation against the Emir nor consulted the Kebbi State’s Council of Chiefs before arriving at his decision.
At a resumed sitting on Tuesday, all parties adopted their briefs of argument before the five-member of the apex court, headed by Justice Uwani Abba Aji, fixed the June 6 date for the delivery of the judgment.
In the matter at the Supreme Court, Sylvester Imhanobe, Esq. represented the deposed Emir, while Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) announced an appearance for the Kebbi State Governor.
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