A major contender to the royal stool in Zazzau Emirate of Kaduna State, who recently sued the state government over the royal tussle, Alhaji Bashir Aminu, Iyan Zazzau, is dead. He was 70 years old.

The Prince from the Katsinawa Royal Household was challenging the appointment of the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli in court, before his death at the weekend.

Sources in Zaria said he has since been buried according to Muslim rites.

He was in court challenging the current Emir’s appointment and had argued that “having scored the highest number of lawful votes cast by the kingmakers and thus selected by the said kingmakers, he has thus acquired a vested right to the stool of the Emir of Zazzau from the date of his selection henceforth.”