Dethroned Emir Jokolo not given fair hearing, Appeal Court holds

The Court of Appeal in Sokoto State on Monday reaffirmed its stance on the dethronement of Alhaji Al-Mustapha  Jokolo, the former Emir of Gwandu, saying he was not given a fair hearing by the Kebbi Government.

In a unanimous judgment, read by Justice Ebiowei Tobi, the court held that the appeal filed by the Kebbi government lacked merit and upheld the lower court decision.

Tobi said the decision was arrived after thorough consideration of the lower court judgment .

The court cited non-compliance with the Chief’s appointment and the Deposition Law of Kebbi.

“I have looked at the judgment of the lower court and it did not mention the evidences as the ground of the judgement.

” The appeal lacks merit and therefore dismissed. By so doing, I reaffirms the judgment of the lower court delivered, ” he said.

According to him, the sister appeal was equally determined in favour of Jokolo because they were all talking about the same subject matter.

NAN reports that  the Kebbi government alongside with 12 others instituted an appeal against the judgement of the lower court which on the fundamental right of the former Emir.

The Appellants were represented by Mr Yakubu Maikyau SAN while Respondent was represented by Mr Fascal Onyenobi, during the hearing of the suit.

NAN reports that in April 2016, the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Tunde Awotoye, upheld the High Court’s decision, stating that the Governor’s actions contravened the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 of the Chief Appointment and Deposition Law.