Court Bars Sanusi’s Reinstatement As Kano Emir

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has issued an order halting the process of reinstating Muhammad Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano by the Kano State Government.

The court therfore halt the enforcing of the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law.

Justice Mohammed Liman granted the order in an application by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate.

The Kano State House of Assembly, has on Thursday dissolved all the four newly created emirate councils in the state.

The dissolution was sequence to the move deliberated on the floor of the House of Plenary affecting Emirates.

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, four years after he was dethroned by a former governor of the state, Umar Ganduje.

In addition, the governor deposed five emirs appointed by Ganduje and gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate their official residences and palaces.

He also directed them to hand over all affairs to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The judge ruled, “That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into law pending the hearing of the fundamental rights application.

“That in view of the constitutional and jurisdictional issues apparent on the face of the application, parties shall address the court on same at the hearing of the fundamental rights application which is fixed for the 3rd of June, 2024.

“That in order to maintain the peace and security of the state, an interim injunction of this Honourable Court is granted restraining the fifth to eight respondents (CP, IGP, NSCDC and DSS) from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalising the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law.

“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into law pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.

“That this case is adjourned to the 3rd day of June 2024, for hearing of the fundamental rights application.”

“Status quo ante” refers to the previously existing state of affairs.