Kebbi High Court reinstates Jokolo as Emir of Gwandu

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

Kebbi State High Court V1, sitting in Birnin Kebbi, under Justice Abbas Ahman has delivered judgment in favour of dethroned Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mustapha Rasheed Jokolo, who has been challenging his dethronement in the court of law in the past eight years.

Jokolo, who was dethroned in 2005, went to court challenging his dethronement on grounds of abuse of privilege, non-compliance with due process and outright disregard for his fundamental human right as a citizen of Nigeria.

The court trial has persisted for nine years, but judgment came the way of the former Emir, Al-Mustapha Jokolo, as the judge ruled in his favour, for his re-instatement as Emir of Gwandu.

But, in a swift reaction to the judgment, the Kebbi state government, which was joined in the suit along with the Emir of Gwandu, who was installed after Jokolo’s dethronement, appealed to the people of the state, especially the people of Gwandu Emirate, to take the matter easy with calm, promising that the state government is going to appeal the case before three months at the court of Appeal.

Briefing newsmen in his office over the judgment, the Secretary to the state Government (SSG) Alhaji Rabi’u Garba Kamba appealed to the people of the state not to take law into their hands over the court pronouncement.

Pointing out that, the decision of the court was a normal court procedure that has to be, noting that in democracy, the decision of the judiciary is paramount ,therefore, citizens should conduct themselves in an orderly manner without any form of violent.

Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the incumbent Emir Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashir were unsuccessful, as he was said to have travelled out of the state.

But, when contacted, a prominent palace aide, who would not want his name in print, responded to newsmen thus: ‘’what else do you want? The government has spoken, so you wait for further action’’ he said.

It could be recalled that Alhaji Al-Mustapha Rasheed Jokolo was deposed by the Adamu Aliero administration in June 2005 and banished to Nasarawa state before he was moved his present abode in Kaduna.

Commenting on the judgment, the lawyer to the dethroned Emir, Barr. Sylvester Imanoibe expressed satisfaction over the court ruling, assuring that in spite of the state government’s position, their client would still win the case, adding that the judgment is a perfect one in democracy.