Iyan Zazzau, who challenged Bamalli’s emirship, is dead

The Iyan Zazzau, Alhaji Bashar Aminu, one of the top contenders to the Zazzau throne who instituted a court action seeking the removal of the 19th emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, has died.

Our correspondent, who visited Aminu’s office in Zaria, confirmed from staff members that the Iyan Zazzau died in Lagos.

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The 19th Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, on Friday confirmed through his verified Twitter handle that: “It is with the deepest regret and no pleasure that we announce the death of the most powerful traditional title holder and wealthiest prince in Northern Nigeria, Alh. Basar Aminu, Iyan Zazzau.”

Daily Trust reports that the Zazzau prince from the Katsinawa dynasty was born in 1951 and was one of the top contenders for the stool of Zazzau emirate.

Alhaji Aminu had, in October, asked a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Zaria to set aside the appointment of Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as the 19th Emir of Zazzau and declare him (Aminu) as the rightful monarch.

He had asked the court to declare him as the duly selected Emir of Zazzau based on the selection of the kingmakers which took place on the 24th of September 2020.

Daily Trust reports that as one of the 11 initial applicants for the throne after the demise of the 18th Emir, Shehu Idris, on September 20, 2020, the Iyan Zazzau was among the top three who made the first list in the selection process by the kingmakers on September 24.

Alhaji Bashar Aminu had scored the highest, putting him ahead of two other princes; the Yariman Zazzau, Alhaji Muhammad Munir Jafaru from the Barebari dynasty and Turakin Zazzau, Alhaji Aminu Shehu Idris, also from the Katsinawa dynasty.

However, Bamalli was eventually announced as the Emir of Zazzau, exactly a week after Governor Nasir El-Rufai ordered for a fresh selection process that expanded the list of contenders to 13.