In a split ruling of two Justices against one, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has prohibited the Federal High Court in Kano from handling the legal dispute regarding the Kano Emirate. The appellate court determined that the federal high court lacks jurisdiction over Kano State Chieftaincy matters, which can only be addressed by the Kano high court. Justice Gabriel Omoniyi Kolawole, who issued the lead judgment on Friday, stated that the federal high court should not be involved in Chieftaincy issues and directed that the case be sent back to the Kano State high court, the appropriate court for such cases. However, Presiding Justice Mustapha Mohammed and another Justice concurred with Justice Kolawole that the federal high court has no jurisdiction in the matter, but disagreed on returning the case to the Kano Chief Judge for reassignment. Instead, the two Justices ruled that the proper course of action was to strike the case from the record, rather than remitting it. As a result, the proceedings in the federal high court were dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction. Further details will follow.
