Appeal Court Reinstates Jokolo as Emir of Gwandu

Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Sokoto, on Thursday reaffirmed the decision of the Kebbi State High Court to reinstate the deposed Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo.

The Appellate court, also ordered that all his salaries and entitlements for the 10 years that he had been deposed be paid to him as ordered by the high court.

The present Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammad Bashar, had filed an appeal challenging the judgment of the lower court and joined the deposed Emir, the state government and 12 others as respondents.

In their judgment, the three judges of the court led by Justice Tunde Awotoye, held that the deposition of the Emir by the former Governor of the state, Senator Adamu Aliero, contravened section 6 and 7 of the Chief Appointment and Deposition Law of the state.

They maintained that the former state governor neither made an inquiry into the allegation against the deposed Emir nor consulted the state Council of Chiefs before arriving at his decision.

The judges averred that his action contradicted section 36 of the 1999 constitution, as the deposed Emir was not given a fair hearing before he was dethroned and as such, the decision was null and void.
They, however, ordered for the reinstatement of the former Emir and the payment of his 10-year salaries and entitlements.

Speaking after the judgment, counsel to the present Emir, Mr. Hassan Zakariyya, said they were not satisfied with the judgment and that they would obtain its copy, study it and advise their client on what should be their next action.
But in a remark, counsel to the Jokolo, Mr. Ahmadu Zumaru, applauded the judgment, saying justice has been done.