The Kebbi State High Court 6, sitting in Birnin Kebbi,
has ordered the immediate reinstatement of Alh Mustapha Haruna Jokolo
as 19th Emir of Gwandu.
Jokolo was dethroned as the Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State in June 2005.

In his ruling, the presiding judge,
Justice Abbas Ahman said the deposition of the 19th Emir of Gwandu
was contrary to law and that due process was not followed.

The judge agreed with the submission of Jokolo
and declared the appointment of the 20th Emir of Gwandu, as null and void
and ordered Jokolo's immediate reinstatement as the 19th Emir.

The judgment generated peaceful jubilation along Ahmadu Bello Way,
Emir Haruna and many major roads in Birnin Kebbi Metropolis and in Gwandu town.

The Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Justice, Alh Aminu Usman
said the state government is studying the case adding that it is more likely that,
the case may terminate at the Supreme Court since there is room for appeal.

Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo was the Aide De Camp (ADC) to former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, in 1983.

Shortly after his retirement from the Nigerian Army as a Major, Jokolo ascended the throne of Gwandu Emirate as the Emir of Gwandu in July 1995 following the death of his father, Alhaji Haruna Al-Rasheed.

But some years after Jokolo ascended the throne,
he was deposed by the former Kebbi State governor, Adamu Aliero on June 3, 2005 and reportedly banished to Lafia.

The state government had leveled three charges against him.

Specifically, Jokolo was accused of making reckless statements capable of threatening national security and not in good terms with other traditional rulers in the state.

He was also accused of abandoning his throne for Kaduna and at one time he allegedly relocated to Kaduna with his family.

The then Kebbi State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Audi Ambursa, who announced Jokolo’s dethronement in Birnin Kebbi explained that Aliero had acted on the basis of the powers conferred on him by section six of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) law of the state. The state government wasted no time in appointing a new emir. Hence, it named Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Iliyasu as Jokolo’s successor.

In his address to the people of Kebbi state same day, Ambursa gave many reasons that informed the state government’s decision to depose him.

These among others "are that he is seen to be complex in character rather than the simplicity expected of his status. Reckless rather than honesty and decorum known for the institution he represents.

In addition, he was said to be having high disregard and disrespect for constituted authority as represented by his travelling outside his domain without official permission from the state and or local governments."