“Since I Can Not Stop Journalists From Doing Their Jobs, I Hereby Gag You Lawyers” – Justice Aliyu Rules

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

To halt any further misinterpretation of her pronouncements by the press in the ongoing Emirship legal tussle in Kano, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, of the Kano State High Court has barred lawyers from speaking to the press forthwith.

All lawyers directly and remotely involved in the Kano Royal Stool legal face- off between Emirs Aminu Ado Bayero and Muhammad Sanusi are not to grant interviews to the Media before, during, after her pronouncements .

Justice Aliyu regretted that her rulings on the matter have been subjected to  different interpretations within the Media circle,.

She is of the belief that the divergent Media  interpretations have largely stemmed from the interviews granted by both Respondents and Applicants legal representatives .

The Judge is presently  presiding over the application filed by the Kano  State Government seeking to stop Emir Bayero from further parading himself as the 15th  Emir of Kano, having been deposed along side four others from Gaya, Rano,Karaye and Bichi on May 23,2024 .

The motion on notice is also praying the court to evict the Kano State Government- deposed Emir Bayero from the mini-Palace in the Nasarawa area of the state .

Emir Bayero has since May 25, 2024 two days after his purported dethronement ,been  occupying the Mini- Nasarawa Palace (the place is the traditional final resting place for Kano Emirs),.

His counterpart in the royal rumble ,Emir Sanusi, is holding out at the City Palace.

Justice Aliyu, during the resumed hearing of the motion on Thursday ,July 4 ,said the gagging of the lawyers have become the last resort since she can not stop the press from performing their constitutional duty.

” It is my order for you, lawyers, not to grant any interview to the press before ,and even after my rulings on the arguments on the pending appeal on stay of proceedings filed by the first respondent.

Even if I can not stop journalists from doing their jobs, I have the power to stop you ( lawyers ) and that is my order”, Justice Aliyu said.