Only a few days after being appointed by the Niger State government, Mohammed Barau Kontagora, the newly-installed Emir of Kotangora, was fired by the court.
A High Court in Minna, the state capital, fired him on Tuesday.
Justice Abdullahi Mikailu, ruling on an ex-parte application brought before the court by 15 aspirants to the throne, ordered Kontagora to stop referring to himself as the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora.
The Judge stated that no one should claim to be the new Emir until the substantive suit is heard and decided.
Other defendants hauled to court by the 15 contestants include the Attorney General of Niger State and the Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development, and Chieftaincy Affairs, in addition to Kotangora, who is the first defendant.
According to the judge, Mohammed Barau Kontagora should cease acting as the 7th Emir “pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff/applicants’ Motion on Notice dated and filed on November 10, 2021.”
“An order of interim injunction is hereby made and issued retraining all the defendants/respondents, their agents, privies and/or any other person by whatever name called acting on the authorities or persons claiming and/or parading or presenting or installing the 1st defendant by presenting a staff of office as the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs/applicants’ motion on notice dated and filed on 11/10/2022.”
The case will be rescheduled for October 20, 2022.
Last Wednesday, the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello-led government named Alh. Mohammed Barau Kontagora as the new Emir (Sarkin Sudan) of the Kontagora Emirate, according to InsightnaijaTV.
Emmanuel Umar, Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Local Government, Community Development, and Chieftaincy Affairs, issued a press statement announcing his appointment.
