The Court of Appeal in Sokoto on Thursday
upheld the decision of the Kebbi High Court
which reinstated the deposed Emir of Gwandu,
Mustapha Jokolo.
The appellate court also ordered that all his
salaries and entitlements for the 10 years that
he was not on the throne be paid to him.
The incumbent Emir of Gwandu, Muhammad
Bashar, had appealed against the judgment of
the lower court, which reinstated Jokolo.
In a unanimous judgment, the three judges of
the court led by Tunde Awotoye, held that the
deposition of Mr. Jokolo by the then governor
contravened Sections 6 and 7 of the Chiefs
Appointment and Deposition Law of the state.
“It was because the governor neither made an
inquiry into the allegation against the emir nor
consulted the state’s Council of Chiefs before
arriving at his decision.
“The former governor’s action had contradicted
Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The deposed emir was not given a fair hearing
before he was dethroned and as such the
decision was null and void,’’ the court held.
The judge ordered the reinstatement of Mr.
Jokolo and the payment of his 10 years salaries
and entitlements.
In his reaction, Counsel to the appellant, Hassan
Zakariya, said they were not satisfied with the
judgment.
Mr. Zakariya said they would study the judgment
and advise their client on the next step.
But Jokolo’s Counsel, Ahmadu Zumaru,
commended the court, and described the
judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
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