By Umar Faruk
Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria, April 24, 2026 (Series News Online)- The Supreme Court has affirmed Alhaji Arzika Bawa Karaye as the Sarkin Kabin Jega, ending a 21-year legal dispute over the traditional stool of Jega in Kebbi State.
In a unanimous judgment delivered today, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Appeal No. SC/CV/413/2010, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Haruna Haruna III, Haliru Haruna III, and Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bunu against the Jega Royal Family of Arzika Bawa Karaye.
The court declared the sitting District Head of Jega, Alhaji Arzika Bawa Karaye, as the rightful holder of the throne. It further held that his family is entitled to the stool of Sarkin Kabin Jega, rejecting the claims of the appellants.
“Today, the Supreme Court further dismissed their appeal and declared the sitting Sarkin Kabi Jega as a rightful heir and holder of the throne and that his family is entitled to the throne against the contention of the Appellants,” court records showed.
The appellants had earlier instituted Suit No. KB/HC/18/2005 at the Kebbi State High Court, challenging the eligibility of Arzika Bawa Karaye to ascend the throne. They lost at the High Court and subsequently at the Court of Appeal before approaching the Supreme Court.
With today’s decision, the appellants have lost at all three levels of court.
“This brought to an end the twenty-one (21) year old legal battle for the stool of Sarkin Kabin Jega in Kebbi State,” the court noted.
In their Statement of Claim filed before the High Court, the plaintiffs, Haruna Haruna III, Haliru Haruna II, and Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bunu, averred that they are natives of Jega town and descendants of Sheikh Mallam Buhari, who founded Jega District in 1818.
The plaintiffs stated that “thirteen kings reigned as Sarkin Kabi after Sheikh Mallam Buhari,” listing them as Sheikh Mallam Buhari, Sarkin Kabin Muslimu, Haruna I Jada, Illo, Samaila, Junaidu, Modi, Sarkin Kabin Aliyu na Babban Dutsi, Aliyu Barmu, Yahaya, Haruna II, Usman, Mohammad Dodo, and Haruna III.
They claimed that five sons of Mallam Buhari — Muslim, Haruna I, Illo, Samaila, and Junaidu — became Sarkin Kabin Jega, establishing five ruling families in Jega.
The 1st and 2nd plaintiffs said they are sons of Sarkin Kabin Jega Haruna III, the son of Haliru Duniya, the son of Maliki, the son of Sarkin Kabin Jega Haruna I Jada Mai Jega, the son of Sheikh Mallam Buhari.
“The 3rd plaintiff is a son of Sarkin Kabin Jega Muhammad Dodo, the son of Dangaladima Ibrahim, the son of Sarkin Kabin Jega Muslim, the son of Sheikh Mallam Buhari,” the Statement of Claim read.
The plaintiffs alleged that the 1st and 2nd defendants “are not descendants of any of the Sarkin Kabin mentioned under paragraph 7 of this Statement of Claim and are not descendants of Sheikh Mallam Buhari,” and therefore “are not from any ruling family and therefore not eligible to contest, be selected or be appointed as Sarkin Kabin Jega.”
According to the claim, the 1st defendant is a descendant of Yakubu Babarbare, who gave birth to Askin Rahi, who gave birth to Sarkin Aski Tawaye, who gave birth to Mamman Auwali, who gave birth to Alhaji Bawa Dariya, the father of the 1st defendant.
The plaintiffs further stated that after the throne became vacant, all plaintiffs, 1st and 2nd defendants, and other candidates contested for the throne.
They averred that the 3rd defendant, Gwandu Emirate Council, conducted screening and disqualified the 1st and 2nd defendants. The council, under the chairmanship of the then Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mustapha Haruna Jokolo, later selected and recommended the 3rd plaintiff to be appointed as the new Sarkin Kabin Jega.
“The 4th defendant unjustly refused or neglected to approve the 3rd plaintiff as the new Sarkin Kabin Jega as well deposed the Emir Gwandu Al-Mustapha Haruna Jokolo,” the Statement of Claim said.
The plaintiffs said a new Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammed Illiyasu Bashar, was appointed and “secretly in the absence of other contestants qualified 1st and 2nd defendants to contest the throne of Sarkin Kabin Jega.”
They stated that the 3rd and 4th defendants appointed the 1st defendant as the Sarkin Kabin Jega on August 2, 2005, but deferred the effective date to May 29, 2007, to allow him to remain as House Leader of the Kebbi State House of Assembly.
“The appointment of 1st defendant as the Sarkin Kabin Jega District Head of Jega is a flagrant abuse of the heritage and custom of the people of the area, the law and other qualifications of a district head,” the plaintiffs claimed.
In their reliefs, the plaintiffs sought a declaration that the 1st and 2nd defendants are not eligible to contest, be selected or appointed as the District Head of Jega, and an order nullifying the selection and appointment of the 1st defendant.
They also sought an order returning the 3rd plaintiff as the duly selected and appointed Sarkin Kabin Jega, among other reliefs.
At the Supreme Court, the appellants were represented by Popoola, SAN, of Lateef Fagbemi Chambers. The Sarkin Kabin Jega and other respondents were represented by Hussaini Zakariya, SAN.
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the appeal now conclusively settles the chieftaincy dispute that began in 2005 with the filing of Suit No. KB/HC/18/2005 at the Kebbi State High Court.
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Judiciary