Alhaji Al-Mustapha Haruna Jokolo, the deposed 19th Emir of Gwandu, has accepted the Supreme Court’s June 4, 2025, ruling that nullified his reinstatement, bringing an end to a nearly two-decade legal battle over the Gwandu Emirate throne in Kebbi State. In a poignant press statement issued from his Kaduna residence, Jokolo submitted to “Almighty Allah’s Will,” expressing gratitude to his legal team, supporters, and the judiciary while lambasting those he accused of perpetrating injustice. The Supreme Court’s split decision (three-to-two) upheld the position of the Kebbi State Government and incumbent Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Ilyasu-Bashar, ruling that Jokolo’s initial suit was filed prematurely, lacking jurisdiction due to non-compliance with the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law.
The Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim on June 4, 2025, overturned the 2014 Kebbi State High Court and 2016 Court of Appeal rulings that ordered Jokolo’s reinstatement as the 19th Emir of Gwandu. The apex court held that Jokolo failed to exhaust mandatory internal dispute resolution mechanisms under Section 5(4) of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, which requires a formal complaint to the state governor before judicial intervention. “This suit was filed prematurely, without first complying with the requirement to present a complaint to the governor. Consequently, the trial court lacked jurisdiction, and its judgment is a nullity,” Justice Agim stated.
The ruling, initially scheduled for June 6 but moved to June 4 due to Eid-el-Kabir holidays, affirmed Alhaji Muhammadu Ilyasu-Bashar as the substantive Emir, ending a 20-year legal saga that began with Jokolo’s controversial deposition in 2005 by then-Governor Adamu Aliero. Despite a dissenting opinion by Justices Uwani Abba-Aji and Ibrahim Mohammad Musa Saulawa, who argued the governor must act with due process, the majority decision prevailed,.
In his press statement, Jokolo expressed profound submission to divine will, citing the Qur’an: “We may like something but it may not be good for us. We may also dislike something but it is better for us.” He thanked supporters, family, and the judiciary, particularly praising the dissenting justices for their courage. Jokolo singled out his lead counsel, Barrister Sylvester Imhanobe, for his unwavering dedication across courts in Abuja, Sokoto, and Kebbi from 2005 to 2025, noting Imhanobe’s victories against prominent Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, and Hussaini Zakariyyau, SAN. He also commended Barristers Samson Audu and Pascal Oyenobi for their loyalty, contrasting their commitment with the alleged betrayal by earlier Muslim Hausa/Fulani lawyers.
Jokolo reserved scathing remarks for those he accused of injustice, including unnamed traditional rulers and two former Kebbi State governors, whom he claimed recently connived against him. “Very soon the Day of Reckoning will come, and we shall watch the Unjust pay heavily for their Acts of Injustice, in sha Allah SWT,” he declared, warning that divine justice would prevail. He specifically criticized a Kebbi State traditional ruler he helped ascend the throne, predicting their imminent downfall.
Jokolo, a former Aide-de-Camp to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, ascended the Gwandu throne in 1995 following his father’s death. In 2005, Governor Adamu Aliero deposed him, citing allegations of reckless statements, strained relations with other traditional rulers, and abandoning his throne for Kaduna. Jokolo challenged the deposition, arguing it violated Sections 6 and 7 of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, which mandate an inquiry and consultation with the Council of Chiefs. The Kebbi State High Court in 2014 and the Court of Appeal in 2016 ruled in his favor, declaring the deposition unlawful,.
However, the Kebbi State Government and Emir Ilyasu-Bashar appealed, arguing procedural lapses. The Supreme Court’s ruling hinged on Jokolo’s failure to first lodge a complaint with the governor, rendering the lower courts’ judgments void,.
Jokolo’s counsel, Sylvester Imhanobe, ruled out seeking a judicial review, stating that Jokolo accepted the verdict in good faith. The Kebbi State Government, through its Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Birnin Mohammed, hailed the judgment as a call for unity, congratulating Emir Ilyasu-Bashar.
