Court stops reinstatement of Muhamadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has granted an ex-parte order stopping Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II pending the determination of a substantive suit filed against the reinstatement.

The Kano State House of Assembly, on Thursday, dissolved all the four newly created emirate councils in the state. The dissolution of the affected Emirates was a sequel to deliberations on the floor of the House during plenary.

Subsequently, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Thursday, 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.

In a new twist, a federal high court sitting in Kano had ordered the Kano State Government, and the State House of Assembly to maintain status quo ante and refrain from implementing the operation of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 (1445 A.H.), as they affect all offices and institutions of the Emirate Council created pursuant to the provisions of the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019 (1441 A.H.).

Justices A. M. Liman made the order stopping Sanusi’s reinstatement in a fundamental human rights suit filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi (Sarkin Dawaki Babba) against the Kano State Government and seven others.

After hearing ‘the submissions of Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa, Counsel for the Plaintiff/Applicant, who moved in terms of the Motion paper, and after careful consideration of the application and submissions of Counsel, Justice Liman gave the orders.

“That leave is granted to the Plaintiff/Applicant to issue and serve their Concurrent Originating Motion as well as all other court processes on the 6th Defendant Inspector General of Police) in FCT Abuja and outside the: jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.

“That an Order of this Honourable Court marking the Plaintiff/ Applicant’s Concurrent Originating Motion as wellas all other court processes to be served on the 6th Defendant in FCT Abuja and outside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court is granted.

“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into 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 3” 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 5th to 8th Respondents 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 3rd day of June, 2024, for hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.”

The court, however, granted leave to the applicant to serve the court documents on the IG in Abuja