A Federal High Court in Kano nullified the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano yesterday. Despite this ruling, the Kano State government quickly reaffirmed that Mohammad Sanusi remains the Emir.
The government also ordered Ado Bayero to vacate the Gidan Nassarawa mini palace for demolition. Alhaji Aminu Babba-Dan’agundi, through his lawyer Ibrahim Aliyu-Nasarawa, had filed a motion on May 23 to prevent the implementation of the Kano State Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024, which abolished the 2019 law that had created five new emirates from the original Kano Emirate.
The court case stems from the reinstatement of Sanusi II, who was removed in 2020 by then-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, as the 16th Emir, replacing Aminu Ado Bayero. Babba-Dangundi sought a court reversal of Bayero’s removal.
The Kano State Government, Kano State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Attorney-General of Kano State, the Commissioner of Police in Kano, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Security Service were named as respondents.
Justice Abdullahi Muhammad-Liman ruled that all actions taken by the state government under the Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024 were null and void. “I hereby order that every step or action taken by the respondents in pursuit of the Kano Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024 is null and void and is set aside. However, this order does not affect the validity of the law,” he stated.
He also instructed all parties to maintain the previous status quo and noted the seriousness of disregarding court orders. Muhammad-Liman approved the respondents’ request for a stay of proceedings pending their appeal on jurisdiction issues and transferred the case to Justice Simon Amobeda of Federal High Court 3.
The applicant’s lawyer, M. S. Waziri, had argued for the nullification of the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024. The counsel for the Kano State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Eyitayo Fatogun, mentioned filing an appeal and sought to withdraw from the case, requesting an adjournment. The lawyer for the Attorney General of Kano State and the State Government, Mr. A. G. Wakil, supported this position. The police, represented by Mr. Sunday Ekwe, did not respond on the jurisdiction issue, emphasizing their role in maintaining peace.
Previously, on May 23, the State House of Assembly dissolved the four newly created emirate councils. On the same day, Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf dethroned Aminu Ado Bayero and reinstated Muhammad Sanusi II as Emir.
Despite the court ruling, the Kano State government insisted that Sanusi remains the Emir and directed the police to remove Bayero from Gidan Nassarawa mini palace for its demolition and reconstruction.
Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi, and Secretary to the State Government, Baffa Bichi, conveyed this directive at a press conference, emphasizing the state government’s commitment to the court ruling and ongoing property renovations.
