Kano Emirate Controversy: FG Limitations
By Ammar Wakili Shanono
It is perplexing why federal security operatives would act on a judicial order issued by an individual not currently residing within the national boundaries.
Pertinent provisions of the recently revised Emirate Law, enacted by Kano state legislators, unequivocally empower the governor to appoint or depose any traditional ruler.
The Federal Government’s intrusion exemplifies a manifest deficiency in competence, reflecting a fundamental misunderstanding of its jurisdictional boundaries.
Within the Nigerian judicial framework, it is impermissible for a judge to preside over or adjudicate legal proceedings from a location outside the nation.
The physical presence of a judge in the courtroom is indispensable for upholding the sanctity and orderly conduct of judicial processes.
The judge’s responsibilities encompass overseeing the proceedings, ensuring equitable administration of justice, and rendering decisions instantaneously, necessitating their corporeal presence.
Notwithstanding, there may exist provisions for virtual adjudications under exceptional circumstances, such as those witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nonetheless, even under such conditions, the judge must remain within the pertinent jurisdiction or possess explicit authorization consonant with the nation’s legal precepts.
It is advisable for the Federal Government to extricate itself from this affair and, in future instances, to exercise greater discernment regarding its jurisdictional limitations.
Ammar is a journalist based in Kano
