By AbdulSalam Muhammad, Kano.

Kano municipal was thrown into festivities recently following a court order directing the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero to reinstate an influential kingmaker, Aminu Baba Dan’Agundi, sacked in 2003 by the monarch.

The historic judgment was a product of audacious assault by Aminu Baba Dan’Agundi on the emirate absolute power culminating in a long but tortuous journey to reclaim the throne of his forefather.

Although Dan’Agundi action against the emirate jolted the conservatives elements in the city, in that his action was the first of its kind in Kano, it was his last option to reclaim his crumbling empire.

When the going was good, Alhaji Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano had conferred the traditional title of Sarkin Dawaki Maituta on Alhaji Aminu Baba Dan’Agundi on June 1, 1990, and thereafter posted him to Gwarzo as district head.

Sequel to that landmark appointment, Baba Dan’Agundi automatically qualifies and became a kingmaker in the Kano emirate council. Other kingmakers in the ancient city are Makama, Wambai, and Sarkin Bai.

For his alleged political leaning, Dan’Agundi was removed by the emirate on December 11, 2003. He was accused of complicity in the electoral malpractice during the 2003 general elections in favour of PDP.

He thereafter challenged the action of the emirate in court on behalf of the Jamo family to which he belongs.

Dan’Agundi’s removal from office which he contested at the law court indeed signposted a catalogues of misfortune that befell him during the last seven years the litigation lasted.

While pursuing his litigation in court, the influential kingmaker was picked up in January 2006 for alleged involvement in the gruesome murder of Sa’adatu Rimi, wife of the late Kano-born politician, Abubakar Muhammadu Rimi  and for 12 months had an experience in Nigerian detention centres  before he was set free by court after his innocence was established.

No wonder the crowd that poured into the streets that Thursday to celebrate the epoch making judgement was not out of place considering his influence and stature in the Kano emirate council.

In his ruling, Justice Muhammad Sadi Mato  of a Kano High court ordered for his immediate reinstatement as district head of Gabasawa, restoration of his traditional title of Sarkin Dawaki Maituta and payment of backlog of his salary and other allowances from the time he was deposed to date.

The court held that since the emirate council derives its life from the local government laws of Kano State, the council and traditional title holders like, the plaintiff, are, therefore, public officers and so, the appointment of Dan’agundi as kingmaker and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta qualifies him as a public officer.

The judge also said that the plaintiff was not given a fair hearing as he was never given a query on his alleged offences before his eventual dismissal, saying the quick decision to dismiss him must have arisen from anger on the part of the council members.

Justice Mato, however, held that a 1974 Kano white paper that was tendered as an exhibit by the plaintiff and which recognised that only descendents of Jamo Babba can lay claim to the office of Sarkin Dawaki Maituta has no force of law as the emirate and the state government have the power to appoint any candidate into the said office whether such appointee is from or outside the Jamo Babba clan. While the judge reeled out his verdicts, no single member of the emirate was around at the court premises.

The historic judgment brought succour to the kingmaker on one hand  and rattled the Kano emirate council  over far reaching consequence of the verdict that altered the status quo and the equilibrium in the powerful council, more especially now that a PDP government is place in the state.

In his reaction shortly after the ruling, the Aminu Baba Dan’Agundi expressed gratitude to God over the victory and as well commended the courage of the judiciary for the popular and historic verdict.