A Federal High Court in Kano has issued an ex-parte order preventing the Kano State Government from enforcing the newly signed Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law. This order effectively stops the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.
Justice Mohammed Liman, the presiding judge, granted the order in response to an application filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate. Dan Agundi challenged the state government, the House of Assembly, the Speaker, the Attorney-General, the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the State Security Service over the abolishment of four emirates: Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano.
The court’s ruling on Thursday requires all parties to maintain the status quo prior to the passage and assent of the repeal bill until the substantive suit against the reinstatement is resolved. Justice Liman stated, “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.” The hearing is scheduled for June 3, 2024.
The court further directed that, “To maintain the peace and security of the state, an interim injunction of this Honourable Court is granted restraining the fifth to eighth respondents (CP, IGP, NSCDC, and DSS) from enforcing, executing, implementing, and operationalizing the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law.”
This legal intervention follows the Kano State House of Assembly’s recent amendment of the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, initially used by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to dethrone Sanusi as the 14th Emir of Kano. The amendment also abolished all offices created under the repealed law.
Deputy Speaker Muhammad Butu, who raised the motion in the House, argued that repealing the law from Ganduje’s administration would restore the lost glory of Kano. In response, Governor Abba Yusuf reappointed Sanusi as the Emir and deposed the five emirs appointed by Ganduje, giving them 48 hours to vacate their official residences and palaces.