The Supreme Court has fixed June 4, 2025, to deliver its long-awaited judgment in the protracted legal battle over the reinstatement of Al-Mustapha Haruna-Jokolo as the 19th Emir of Gwandu.
The new date comes two days earlier than the previously scheduled June 6, following the federal government’s declaration of public holidays for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
A five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, had initially reserved judgment for June 6 after hearing final arguments from all parties on March 11.
The appeals before the apex court challenge the 2016 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Sokoto, which upheld a 2014 ruling by the Kebbi State High Court ordering Jokolo’s reinstatement.
The former Emir was controversially deposed in 2005 and subsequently initiated legal proceedings against the Kebbi State Government.
Despite favourable rulings in the lower courts, the state government and the current Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Ilyasu-Bashar, approached the Supreme Court, arguing that the case was wrongly filed at the State High Court and should be considered null and void.
The apex court is currently reviewing four appeals and two cross-appeals in the matter. A single consolidated judgment is expected to address all the legal issues raised.
Barrister Sylvester Imhanobe is representing the deposed Emir, while the Kebbi State Government and the current Emir are represented by Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) and Hussaini Zakariya (SAN), respectively.
As the judgment date nears, residents of Birnin Kebbi have expressed mixed reactions, with many urging for a peaceful resolution to safeguard the prevailing calm in the state.
The ruling is anticipated to finally bring closure to a two-decade-old royal succession crisis that has divided opinion in the Gwandu Emirate.
