Judge ‘gags’ lawyers in Kano emirship case

Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the Kano State High Court, sitting at the Audu Bako Secretariat, issued a directive on Thursday, prohibiting lawyers involved in the ongoing Kano emirship case from engaging in media interviews before, during, and after her rulings and declarations.

The judge instructed counsel for both the applicants and respondents to refrain from speaking to the press.

Aliyu’s ruling was prompted by her concern that journalists were misinterpreting her statements and judgments, which was allegedly fueled by interviews with lawyers.

Recognizing her lack of authority to control the press, she opted to exercise her power to restrain lawyers from engaging in media interviews, thereby preventing further potential misrepresentation of her rulings.

She said: “It is my order for you (lawyers) not to grant any interview with the press before and even after my ruling on the argument on the pending appeal on stay of proceedings filed by the first respondent.

“Even if I cannot stop the journalists from doing their jobs, I have the power to stop you (lawyers), and that is my order.”

Persecondnews recalls that the Attorney General of Kano State, the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the Kano State House of Assembly itself (the applicants) have filed a lawsuit seeking a court order to restrain Aminu Ado Bayero, the 15th Emir of Kano, and four others from claiming the title of Emir or presenting themselves as such.

Additional parties named in the lawsuit include: Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero (deposed Emir of Bichi), Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar ll, (deposed Emir of Karaye), Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa (deposed Emir of Rano), and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim (deposed Emir of Gaya).

Other parties respondent to the suit are the Inspector General of Police, the Department of Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Army.