The Kebbi High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, has ordered the immediate reinstatement of Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo, who was the Aide De Camp (ADC) to former Head of State, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, in 1983, as 19th Emir of Gwandu.

Alhaji Mustapha Haruna Jokolo was dethroned as the Emir of Gwandu in June 2005.

In his ruling, Justice Abbas Ahman said the deposition of the 19th Emir of Gwandu was contrary to law and that due process was not followed.

The judge upheld the submission of Jokolo and declared the appointment of the 20th Emir of Gwandu as null and void and ordered Jokolo’s immediate reinstatement as the 19th Emir.

Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Justice, Alhaji Aminu Usman said the state government was studying the case, adding that there was room for appeal.

Shortly after his retirement from the Nigerian Army as a Major, Jokolo ascended the throne of Gwandu Emirate as the Emir of Gwandu in July 1995, following the death of his father, Alhaji Haruna Al-Rasheed.

But some years after Jokolo ascended the throne, he was deposed by the former Kebbi State governor, Adamu Aliero, on June 3, 2005 and reportedly banished to Lafia.

The state government had levelled three charges against him.

Specifically, Jokolo was accused of making reckless statements capable of threatening national security and not in good terms with other traditional rulers in the state.

He was also accused of abandoning his throne for Kaduna and at one time, he allegedly relocated to Kaduna with his family.

The then Kebbi State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Audi Ambursa, who announced Jokolo’s dethronement in Birnin Kebbi, explained that Aliero had acted on the basis of the powers conferred on him by section six of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) law of the state. The state government wasted no time in appointing a new emir. Hence, it named Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Iliyasu as Jokolo’s successor.

In his address to the people of Kebbi State same day, Ambursa gave many reasons which informed the state government’s decision to depose him.

In addition, he was said to be having high disregard and disrespect for constituted authority, as represented by his travelling outside his domain without official permission from the state and or local governments.

•Credit: Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows Emir Jokolo.

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