By Patrick Idowu
In a dramatic twist, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has ruled to bar the Federal High Court in Kano from hearing the ongoing legal battle over the Kano Emirate.
In a split decision, two Justices backed the move, asserting that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Kano State High Court.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole, delivering the lead judgment, declared that the Federal High Court had no authority over chieftaincy disputes, ordering the case to be transferred to the Kano State High Court.
However, the Presiding Justice, Mustapha Mohammed, and another Justice disagreed on the transfer, opting instead to strike out the case entirely.
The ruling puts a definitive end to the Federal High Court’s involvement, reaffirming the exclusive jurisdiction of the Kano State High Court in chieftaincy matters.
