Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has reminded the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court that they do not have the jurisdiction to determine chieftaincy matters in Nigeria.
Falana was reacting to the emirship battle between Emir Ado Bayero and Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in Kano.
Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Kano, had ordered Kano State government to pay the sum of N10 million as compensation for breaching the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero’s fundamental human right.
The presiding judge, Justice Simon Amobeda gave the order while delivering the judgment in the case instituted by Aminu Bayero seeking for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
However, reacting to the case as regards to the “fundamental human rights violation”, Falana in a statement on Tuesday reminded judges and lawyers that disputes arising from chieftaincy and other local matters are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court of each state of the Federation.
Falana equally stated that chieftaincy matter is not a matter of Fundamental Rights and cannot be enforced under the provisions of section 31 of the Constitution, noting that “It cannot be seriously argued that there is a fundamental right to be a ‘Chief’”.
