Court overturns Sanusi’s reinstatement as Kano Emir.
Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano has overturned Muhammadu Sanusi II’s reinstatement as Emir of the famed Kano Emirate.
Despite the judge’s rejection on Thursday to declare the modified Kano Emirate law null and void, he overturned all of Governor Abba Yusuf’s activities following the controversial law’s revision by the Kano State House of Assembly on May 23, 2024.
Justice Liman criticised the governor’s acceptance to the bill and the delivery of an appointment letter to Emir Sanusi on May 24, 2024, despite a court order instructing all parties to maintain the status quo.
The judge stated that he listened to the governor’s media statement after signing the law and was convinced that the respondents (the governor and the Kano State House of Assembly) were aware of the order to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motions on notice in court.
Justice Liman remarked that if the respondents had followed the court order, they would have been able to finish their responsibilities and submit the state’s trash.
The politics of the historic and distinguished Emirate of Kano have taken several controversial turns in the last ten years. While not as dramatic and shocking as the iconic American fantasy drama series ‘Game of Thrones’, its latest twist is straight out of a movie script, with either a centuries-old tradition or politics triumphing.
In the ancient city, two royal dynasties battled for supremacy: the Bayero and the Sanusi families. Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II defeated Aminu Ado Bayero to succeed his father, Emir Ado Bayero, in 2014.
A disagreement with the state governor at the time, Abdullahi Ganduje, resulted in his dismissal three months shy of six years later in favour of his predecessor’s son, Aminu Ado Bayero.
Four years and a change of administration later, Governor Yusuf reappointed Sanusi, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as Kano Emir after the state Assembly revised a contentious statute dividing the emirate into five.
However, Aminu Babba Danagundi, a kingmaker in one of the former emirates, questioned the law’s legitimacy and asked the court to declare the repealed statute null and void.