Appointment Of Emir Of Zazzau: Iyan Zazzau Drags El-Rufai To Court
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – In spite of his having to read so many books and traditional literature before appointing Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamali as the new Emir of Zazzau, the Iyan Zazzau, Alhaji Bashir Aminu, has faulted the choice and process adopted by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.
Accordingly, the Iyan Zazzau has dragged Governor El-Rufai, to court for what he considered a ‘breach’ in the appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu-Bamalli as the new Emir of Zazzau to succeed the Late Dr. Shehu Idris, who died on September 20, 2020.
In a suit filed before the Kaduna State High Court of Justice on Monday, October 12, 2020, Alhaji Aminu is seeking the court to declare that, “having scored the highest number of lawful votes cast by the kingmakers and selected by the Zazzau Emirate kingmakers, he has therefore acquired vested right to the stool of the Emir of Zazzau from the date of his selection henceforth”.
A copy of the suit made available to Forefront News indicated that Alhaji Aminu joined the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Kaduna State, the Kaduna State Council of Chiefs, the Zazzau Emirate Council, Wazirin Zazzau and Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu, who is the Fagachin Zazzau in the case.
Also joined in the suit include, Alhaji Umaru Muhammad, Alhaji Mohammad Abbas, who is Makama Karamin Zazzau, Alhaji Dalhatu Kasimu Imam, the Limamin Juma’an Zazzau, Alhaji Mohammad Sani Aliyu, who is the Limamin Konan Zazzau, and Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli.
The Zazzau Emirate kingmakers, chaired by the Wazirin Zazzau, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu submitted a list of three shortlisted princes to Governor El-Rufai for his consideration and appointment of a new Emir.
The three shortlisted candidates were Alhaji Bashir Aminu, who is the Iyan Zazzau polled 89 marks; Alhaji Munir Jafaru, who is the Yariman Zazzau garnered 87 marks while Alhaji Aminu Shehu Idris, who is the Turakin Karamin Zazzau recorded 53 marks based on criteria set by the Kaduna State Government.
The three selected candidates were drawn from 11 aspirants that applied to the kingmakers from the four ruling houses of the emirate that indicated interest to succeed the late emir.
But in what appeared a sudden reversal of the selection by the Kingmakers, Governor El-Rufai on October 1, rejected the list submitted by the kingmakers, saying that the kingmakers were not fair to other contenders and directed that all the aspirants should be given the chance to contest.
Towards this end, the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal, explained that the state government had directed a new round of selection process, as a result of the cancellation of the earlier process that allegedly excluded two other interested aspirants.
When the Kingmakers showed unwillingness to through another selection process, Governor El-Rufai approved the appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu-Bamalli as the new emir thereby jettisoned the selection and recommendation of the Zazzau kingmakers.
The plaintiff, Alhaji Aminu is seeking for a “Declaration that he is still the Emir of Zazzau and is entitled to all rights and privileges pertaining thereto and an order setting aside the purported appointment of the 10th defendant, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli as the Emir of Zazzau;
He is also seeking an injunction restraining Governor El-Rufai as the 1st defendant, the State Attorney General as the 2nd defendant as well as the 3rd and 4th defendants from acting in the installation of the Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamali being the 10th defendant to the throne of the Emir of Zazzau or presenting him with the staff of office pending the final determination of the suit.
Other reliefs being sought include; “An order of perpetual injuction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from dealing with, treating, presenting, or dealing with installing the 10th defendant as the Emir of Zazzau or handing over to him the staff of office of the Emir of Zazzau,” he prayed the Court.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves, agents, privies, servants or through any person or persons howsoever from treating, presenting or dealing with or installing the 10th defendant as the Emir of Zazzau;
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 10th defendant from parading, presenting or styling himself as the Emir of Zazzau or from putting on or wearing any paraphernalia or insignia of the Emir of Zazzau.”
