Iyan Zazzau Files Lawsuit against El-Rufai
Seeks to be Declared Emir of Zazzau
Wants Court to Nullify Appointment of Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli
The last has not been heard of the Zazau Emirate, even after the appointment an emir by the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai on the 7th of October following the demise of the former emir, Shehu Idris who died on September 20.
In fact, the appointment of Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli has led to dissatisfaction by a leading contender for the throne, Iyan Zazzau, Bashir Aminu, who dragged the governor to the state High Court today (Monday 12th October , 2020) to challenge the process leading to the appointment.
The Iyan Zazzau was seeking to be declared most appropriate person to be made emir “having scored the highest number of lawful votes cast by the kingmakers and thus selected by the said kingmakers…”
He claimed to have “acquired vested right to the stool of the Emir of Zazzau from the date of his selection henceforth.”
He was also seeking for “A declaration that the plaintiff is still the Emir of Zazzau and is entitled to all rights and privillages pertaining thereto.
“An order setting aside the purported appointment of the 10th defendant (Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli) as the Emir of Zazzau;
“An injunction restraining the 1st ,2nd ,3rd and 4th defendants from acting in the installation of the 10th defendant to the throne of the Emir of Zazzau or presenting to the 10th defendant with the staff of office until the final determination of this suit;
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants either by themselves, agents, privies, servants or through any person or persons howsoever from treating, presenting or dealing with or installing the 10th defendant as the Emir of Zazzau;
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 10th defendant from parading, presenting or styling himself as the Emir of Zazzau or from putting on or wearing any paraphernalia or insignia of the Emir of Zazzau.”
“An order of perpetual injuction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants from dealing with, treating, presenting, or dealing with installing the 10th defendant as the Emir of Zazzau or handing over to him the staff of office of the Emir of Zazzau.”
In a copy of summons sent to Nigerian Sketch, the case has the governor, Nasir El-Rufai; 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 Bamalli as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th defendants respectively.
Nigerian Sketch reported earlier that the Zazzau Emirate kingmakers had, after screening all contenders, forwarded a list of three shortlisted princes to the governor, El-Rufai to choose a new emir from. These included the Iyan Zazzau, Bashir Aminu, (with 89 marks); Yariman Zazzau, Munir Jafaru (with 87 marks) and Turakin Zazzau, Aminu Shehu Idris (with 53 marks).
The governor however refused to work with the kingmakers’ recommendation, opting to disregard the process and called for a new one which, according to report, still did not include Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli who he eventually appointed.
