Sokoto Division of Court of Appeal yesterday 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 he was not on the throne be paid to him.

The incumbent Emir Muhammad Bashar, had appealed the judgment of the lower court, which earlier reinstated Jokolo.

In a unanimous judgment, the three judges of the court, led by Justice Tunde Awotoye, ruled that Jokolo’s deposition by the then governor, Adamu Aliero, contravened Sections 6 and 7 of the Chiefs Appointment and Deposition Law of the state.

The court averred that: “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 panel, therefore, ordered the reinstatement of the deposed monarch and the payment of his 10 years salaries and entitlements.

Reacting to the judgement, the appellant’s counsel, Hassan Zakariya, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgement, saying 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.

•Sourced from Blueprint. Photo shows Jokolo.

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