Kano palace demolition: Court restrains Emir Sanusi

A High Court in Kano on Friday restrained the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, from demolishing or tempering with any structure in the emir’s palace.
One Alhaji Salim Bayero had filed the suit, seeking order to stop the emir, the Emirate Council, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, from destroying some structures in the palace.
He also prayed the court to restrain the defendants from evicting occupiers of the structures, pending the determination of a substantive suit on the matter.
The Judge, Justice A.T. Badamasi, in his ruling also restrained the emir and the emirate council from evicting any person residing inside the palace known as Gidan Rumfa until the determination of the substantive application.
The judge also directed that the parties should maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Badamasi adjourned hearing of the main suit till November 12 for hearing.
Reacting to the ruling, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Sanusi Sadiq, told newsmen that what the emir and the council were seeking to destroy was the graveyard where no fewer than 13 former Kano emirs were buried.
He explained that the plan to demolish the structures in the palace was capable of “killing the ancient tradition which Kano emirate council is known for”.