Ex-kingmaker sues El-Rufai, 13 others, seeks Emir of Zazzau’s removal

A former kingmaker in the Zazzau Emirate Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad Aminu, has sued the Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai; the Zazzau Emirate and 12 others over the appointment of Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as the 19th Emir of Zazzau.

Aminu, who held the position of Wazirin Zazzau, a title that qualified him as one of the kingmakers during the selection process, has asked Kaduna State High Court to nullify the selection and appointment of the emir.

Listed among other respondents in the case, which came up for mention yesterday, are the emir and the late Limamin Kona, Malam Sani Aliyu, who died in July 2021.

Daily Trust recalls that Bamalli – a former Nigeria Ambassador to Thailand – was appointed the 19th Emir of Zazzau on October 7, 2020 by El-Rufai.

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However, when the case came up for mention yesterday, Justice Isah Aliyu adjourned the matter until February 23 to allow the counsel to study and respond to preliminary objections filed by some of the respondents. 

Speaking to journalists shortly after the court session, counsel to the plaintiff, Rabiu Saidu, said his client went to court “Because we believe that, as it were, the extant laws, the relevant tradition and custom were not followed in his appointment by the authority.

“Normally names are sent by the kingmakers to the governor of the state and these names are sent in order of priority or qualification as assessed by the kingmakers. So, we are saying among several other complaints that were filed, the person who is currently occupying the position of the Emir of Zazzau was not among the names or that he was not qualified in the phase of the other names that were sent to the governor. So, he could not just have been appointed in violation of the recommendations that were sent to the governor,” he said.

Speaking about the inclusion of a deceased kingmaker among the respondents, Saidu said, “What is valid is that, the office, which is ‘Limamin Kona of Zazzau’ is not personal to the name, so if there is someone who has occupied that office, that person’s name will be the one that will be substituted.”

He noted that the office was included because of the role or functions the office might have had or has bearing to the relief being sought in the court.

Counsel to the emirate (sixth defendant), Aminu Usman Bamali, said the counsel to the plaintiff ought to have provided a Kaduna address for service because the lawyer that filed the matter was based in Abuja.

“As stated in order 4 rule 6 of the Kaduna State High Court Civil procedure, it is mandatory for counsels to provide an address for service. This made it difficult for us to serve them on time and the case was adjourned until February 23.”