Gov. El-Rufai, 9 others dragged to court over appointment of new Emir of Zazzau

A contestant for the Zazzau Emirate stool, Alhaji Bashir Aminu, has dragged the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and nine others before a Kaduna State High Court over the appointment of a new Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Bamalli.

Others joined in the suit were the Attorney-General of Kaduna State; Kaduna State Council of Chiefs; Zazzau Emirate Council; Wazirin Zazzau, Ibrahim Aminu; Fagachin Zazzau, Umaru Muhammad; Mohammad Abbas, Makama Karamin Zazzau; Dalhatu Kasimu Imam, Limamin Juma’an Zazzau; Mohammad Sani Aliyu, Limamin Konan Zazzau; Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamali as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th,9th, and 10th defendants respectively in the suit.

Alhaji Bashir Aminu,  Iyan Zazzau, who was among those earlier selected by the Zazzau kingmakers, having scored the highest marks to succeed the late Idris, on Monday, instituted a suit to challenge the process that led to the emergence of the new emir.

Read Also: New Emir: Kaduna govt. confirms receipt of Zazzau kingmakers report

Also, others shortlisted by the kingmakers for recommendations to the governor were the Yariman Zazzau, Munir Jafaru; and the Turakin Karaman Zazzau, Aminu Idris.

Key criteria considered by the kingmakers were that the new emir must be learned both in western and Islamic education.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai had appointed Bamali following the death of the 18th emir, Alhaji Shehu Idris, last month after a 45-year reign.

Although the governor allegedly set aside the recommendations of the kingmakers and appointed Bamali as the new emir.

In the suit, the Iyan Zazzau sought the court to declare him the emir having scored the highest votes cast by the kingmakers.

Counsel to Iyan Zazzau,  Yunus Usman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria filed the court process.