By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The battle over the successor to the late Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Saidu Namaska has taken a legal dimension as Justice Abdullahi Mikhaliu of Minna High Court, Niger state, on Wednesday, granted an interim injunction restraining the newly appointed successor, Alhaji Mohammed Mu’azu Barau from parading himself as the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora.
The Court granted the order in an exparte motion filed by one of the contestants to the stool, Barrister Mohammed Anache, on behalf of eight other aggrieved contestants, to replace the former Emir who died after 47 years on the throne.
Justice Mikhaliu who granted the order on Tuesday, October 12, 2021, also ordered the newly appointed Mohammed Mu’azu Barau from parading himself as the 7th Emir of Kontagora pending the hearing and the determination of the plaintiff/applicant motion on notice.
The document in part reads: “An order of interim injunction is hereby made and issued restraining the 1st respondent, Alhaji Muhammad Barau from parading himself as the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora.
“By virtue of its selection, purportedly had on the 19th day of September 2021, pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff/applicants’ motion-filled on the 11th of October, 2021”, the Judge said.
The Court also restrained the five king-makers who presided over the entire exercise from acting on the orders of any other party in issuing a staff of office to the newly Sarkin Sudan, Alhaji Mohammed Mu’azu Barau, who has also been issued appointment letter by the state government.
“In the second prayer, I hereby grant an order of interim injunction is hereby made and issued restraining act the defendant/respondent, their agents, proxies claiming for parading to be installing the 1st defendants”.
The plaintiffs who are eligible to contest for the royal throne, claiming that due process was not followed in the selection also want the Court to restrain the relevant authorities from presenting staff of office to Mohammed Mu’azu Barau as the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Niger state pending the hearing and determination of the motion.
Recall that the late Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Alhaji Saidu Namaska, joined his ancestors at the age of 84 after spending 47 years on the throne.
Choosing a replacement for the Niger state First class Emir has been embroiled in crisis as no fewer than 47 princesses from the Kontagora Emirate Council have indicated interest to succeed late Saidu Namaska.
Also, the Heir apparent to the Kontagora throne, Alhaji Bashar Saidu Namaska also died before the death of his father, late Umaru Saidu Namaska. He was said to have been attacked in his farm by suspected armed bandits. NNL.
