A Kano State High Court has once again restrained the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, from renovating the Nassarawa Mini Palace.
The court’s ruling came on Thursday following a motion ex parte filed by the Kano State Government, the Attorney General of Kano, and the Kano Emirate Council on September 12, 2024.
READ ALSO: Court restrains 15th Emir of Kano, Bayero from renovating Nasarawa Palace
The applicants, represented by counsel Rilwanu Umar SAN, sought the court’s intervention to prevent Ado-Bayero from carrying out any renovation work on the palace located along State Road in Kano. Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero is the sole respondent in the case.
In her ruling on the interlocutory injunction, Justice Dije Abdu-Aboki, the presiding judge and Chief Judge of Kano State, stated that the applicants’ request was meritorious and granted the application. She noted, “It is pertinent to note that the respondent filed no counter affidavit nor written address challenging the applicant.”
The case has been redirected to High Court 15 for further mention. Earlier, the applicantsโ counsel, Rabiu Ibrahim-Yaura, informed the court that Ado-Bayero had been deposed by law under the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.
“My lord, the respondent was served on September 14 and did not file any counter affidavit nor written address and was not represented before the court,” Ibrahim-Yaura stated.
The applicants also requested that the court declare the Nassarawa Mini Palace as the property of the Kano State Government and the Emirate Council, rather than belonging to the respondent.
This ruling follows a previous court order on September 13, which granted an interim injunction preventing Ado-Bayero, his agents, or anyone acting on his behalf from demolishing, renovating, or repairing the Nassarawa Mini Palace pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court also directed all parties involved to maintain the status quo concerning the structural and architectural design of the palace until the case is resolved.