The deposed Waziri of Zazzau, Ibrahim Muhammad-Aminu, has petitioned the Kaduna State House of Assembly to reverse the appointment of Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli as the 19th Emir of Zazzau.
In the petition addressed to Speaker Yusuf Dahiru-Liman, Ibrahim accused former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of unlawfully appointing Bamalli as Emir in November 2020.
Ibrahim claims that the appointment bypassed the traditional selection process and violated state laws. According to him, the Zazzau kingmakers had submitted three nominees – Alhaji Bashir Aminu, Alhaji Muhammad Munir Ja’afaru, and Aminu Shehu Idris – but Bamalli’s name was not among them. This, he argues, shows that the appointment was imposed by El-Rufai, disregarding both tradition and the law.
The petition also challenges Ibrahim’s removal as Waziri, with him claiming it was unjust and done without cause. He was reportedly arrested and replaced by Alhaji Inuwa Aminu. Ibrahim emphasizes that the Waziri title is a lifetime position and cannot be removed arbitrarily. He believes his removal was a breach of tradition and an affront to the dignity of the Zazzau Emirate.
Ibrahim has urged the Assembly to take several actions. He wants them to reverse Bamalli’s appointment as Emir, reinstate him as Waziri, order payment of his withheld entitlements, and uphold the traditional practices of the Zazzau Emirate. He believes these steps are necessary to restore the dignity and integrity of the emirate.
In his petition, Ibrahim cited Kaduna State Gazette No. 9 Vol. 54, arguing that Bamalli’s appointment violates state laws. He called for justice and respect for northern Nigeria’s traditional institutions, urging the Assembly to take action to address what he sees as a grave injustice. The outcome of this petition could have significant implications for the Zazzau Emirate and its traditional institutions.