Former President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday congratulated his friend and course mate in the military, Major-General Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar who secured a Supreme Court victory following a 20-year battle for the throne against a deposed emir, Major Haruna Jokolo (retd.)
“I hope you will continue to promote peace, happiness, and prosperity of the people in Gwandu Emirate and beyond,” a statement by Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, quoted the ex-president as saying in a phone call.
In the telephone call from London where the former president resides at the moment, Buhari expressed his heartiest congratulations to the Emir, urging him to do more to build on the successes and achievements he attained, even as he faced a challenging distraction from the prolonged litigation.
He said, “You have always worked for the betterment of your people and the nation, even under those circumstances.”
The protracted legal dispute over the Gwandu Emirate throne began in 2005 when Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo was deposed as the 19th Emir of Gwandu by the Kebbi State Government under contentious circumstances.
Jokolo, a former Aide-de-Camp to ex-Head of State Muhammadu Buhari, contested his removal, asserting it was unjust and lacked due process.
He initiated legal proceedings seeking reinstatement, leading to a prolonged legal battle that spanned nearly two decades.
In 2014, the Kebbi State High Court ruled in Jokolo’s favour, ordering his reinstatement, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2016.
However, the Kebbi State Government and the incumbent Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Ilyasu, challenged these rulings at the Supreme Court.
Their appeal centered on procedural grounds, arguing that Jokolo failed to comply with Section 5(4) of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, which mandates that any aggrieved party must first submit a formal complaint to the governor before seeking judicial intervention.
On June 4, 2025, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict, agreeing with the appellants that Jokolo’s failure to serve a pre-action notice on the Governor rendered the initial suit incompetent.
The court held that this procedural lapse deprived the trial court of jurisdiction, thereby nullifying the judgments of both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Wednesday’s decision effectively affirmed Alhaji Muhammadu Ilyasu as the rightful Emir of Gwandu, ending the 20-year legal tussle over the emirate’s leadership.
“I thank Allah for this victory and pray for your long life and good health,” Buhari told Emir Ilyasu.