A Sokoto State High Court has issued an order restraining Governor Ahmed Aliyu from sacking two of the 15 district heads his government had earlier removed from office.
This came as the controversy surrounding the attempt to whittle down the powers of the Sultan rages.
The State House of Assembly had, reportedly, passed the Emirate Council Amendment Bill seeking to amend the Emirate Council Law to require the Sultan to obtain government’s approval before appointing kingmakers and district heads.
The court order was sought separately by Alhaji Buhari Tambuwal and Alhaji Abubakar Kassim, the district heads of Tambuwal and Kebbe respectively, who are among the rulers removed by the state government, on the allegation of insubordination and aiding insecurity in the state.
The trial judge, Kabiru Ibrahim Ahmed, however, ordered the governor, his Attorney General and the Sokoto Sultanate Council to revert to the status quo, pending determination of the suit filed before him by the complainants, who were represented by Prof. Ibrahim Abdullahi (SAN).
Justice Ahmed, through two orders, which were sighted by The Guardian, dated, June 16, 2024, directed the defendants, their agents, servants, privies or assigns or any person acting on their behalf, to “maintain status quo, and or stay all actions and or further actions in connection with all matters dealing with and or appertaining to the removal and or dethronement of districts heads in Sokoto State, particularly those of Kebbe and Tambuwal, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction duly filed before the court.”
