Appeal Court Rules Federal High Court Lacks Jurisdiction In Kano Emirate Dispute

The Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a 2-1 decision, has ruled that the Federal High Court in Kano lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the legal tussle involving the Kano Emirate.

In the lead judgment delivered on Friday, Justice Gabriel Omoniyi Kolawole held that matters concerning Kano State chieftaincy issues fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Kano State High Court. He directed that the case be returned to the Kano State High Court for proper adjudication.

However, the presiding Justice Mustapha Mohammed, along with another Justice, agreed that the Federal High Court had no jurisdiction over the matter but disagreed with remitting the case to the Kano State High Court. Instead, they ordered the proceedings of the Federal High Court to be struck out entirely, asserting that the court should not have entertained the case in the first place.

The decision highlights the appellate court’s reinforcement of jurisdictional boundaries, emphasizing that chieftaincy and traditional matters are state-specific and must be addressed within the appropriate legal framework.

This ruling brings an end to the Federal High Court’s involvement in the dispute, leaving the fate of the Kano Emirate legal matter to be determined within Kano State’s judicial system.