Sanusi vs Bayero: Is Federal High Court Above State High Court? Fact Emerges

• The claim on social media that the federal high court is above any state high court is misleading
• This followed conflicting court orders on the royal tussle between the deposed and reinstated Emir Aminu Ado Bayero and Muhammadu Sanusi II
• Wale Adeagbo, a legal practitioner who spoke with Legit.ng, said the constitution did not place one above the other and advised on the way forward

Legit.ng journalist Bada Yusuf is an accomplished politics and current affairs editor, boasting over seven years of experience in journalism and writing.

Kano - The claim that the federal high court is above any state high court is misleading. As a legal practitioner, Wale Adeagbo disclosed that the Nigerian Constitution does not place one above the other.

The claim was made by a Nigerian with the handle Sambo Mai Hula @Abdullahiabba_ while writing on the conflicting orders issued by the Federal High Court in Kano and the Kano State High Court over the royal tussle in the state.

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Sanusi vs Bayero: Two court gives conflicting orders

Earlier in the week, the two high courts issued orders to the police and other security agencies for and against the deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero and the reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Justice S. Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano issued a directive to the inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the commissioner of police in the state, Hussain Gumel, to ensure that the deposed Ado Bayero gets all the rights and privileges as the Emir.

On the other hand, Justice Amina Aliyu of the Kano state High Court ordered the police, the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army not to evict the reinstated Emir of Kano, Sanusi, from the palace.

Sambo Mai Hula, in a tweet on the development, said:

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"The Federal High Court is above any State High Court.

"Do not be deceived, HRH Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero is still the Emir of Kano Emirate.

"Do not go out there to fight with anyone as Sunusi Lamido Sunusi is getting evicted from Gidan Rumfa.

"Achraf Sunusi will not fight with the Security Agencies, neither will any of their Close Family or Friends, so do yourself a favour and stay at home."

Lawyer on superiority of state, federal high court

Because of the weight of the claim, Legit.ng spoke to Adeagbo, a lawyer, to find out if Sambo Mai Hula's position was in accordance with the Constitution.

Adeagbo said:

"They are both of co-ordinate jurisdiction and power. They are both High Courts, just that one is a State High Court and the other is a Federal High Court. The Constitution has not placed any of them above another.

"It’s very simple: the orders are both Ex-Parte Orders, which do not last forever. Generally, an ex-parte order lasts for only 7 days. On the sight of this conflicting Ex-Parte Order, the Parties involved should maintain status quo including the Police. They should go to Court to challenge the real issue."

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See the tweet of Sambo Mai Hula here:

Atiku speaks on Kano royal tussle

Legit.ng earlier reported that Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, reacted to the royal tussle between Sanusi and Bayero.

The ex-PDP presidential candidate condemned the deployment of the military in the matter, saying such would upset the peace and security in the state.

He added that President Bola Tinubu's administration needs to be reminded that Kano is known for peace and security, and any attempt to destabilise it would be resisted.

Source: Legit.ng