A Federal High Court in Kano has nullified the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano, according to a certified true copy of the judgement obtained by our correspondent.
The court ruling, delivered by Justice Muhammadu Liman, annulled the steps taken by the defendants in pursuance of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024, which led to Sanusi’s reinstatement.
The plaintiff, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dangundi, had challenged the law and Sanusi’s appointment as the 16th Emir of Kano State Emirate, citing violation of a previous court order.
The court’s decision comes amid a protracted emirship tussle in Kano State, which has seen the installation of Emir Ado Bayero by the previous administration, and the deposition of Sanusi as Emir of Kano.
The Kano State government and other parties involved in the suit have been ordered to maintain the status quo ante, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Since the judgement was delivered by Justice Muhammadu Liman, on Thursday, the two parties involved in the emirship tussle have been claiming court victory based on their own interpretation, according to Independent.
However, in the CTC obtained by our correspondent, Justice Liman held, “That every step taken by the Defendants in pursuance to the KANO STATE EMIRATE | COUNCIL (Repeal) LAW, 2024 are hereby annulled and set aside.
“That however, this order does not affect the validity of the KANO STATE EMIRATE COUNCIL (Repeal) LAW, 2024, which is the subject matter of the substantive sult.
“That the earlier order directing parties to maintain status quo ante still stands.”
The CTC showed that the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi was nullified by the court.
For about a month now, there has been crisis over the amendment of the Emirates law in Kano by the State House of Assembly, which as a result affected the installation of Emir Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano, by the administration of former governor Abdullah Ganduje, after the deposition of Sanusi as Emir of Kano.
In suit number suit No. FHC/ KN/CS/ 1382/2024, the plaintiff, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dangundi had dragged the Kano state government, Kano State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, Attorney-General of Kano State, Commissioner of Police, Kano State, Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Department of State Security.
The plaintiff prayed for an order declaring null and void the conduct of the 2nd and 3rd Defendants in passing into law, the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 in violation of the order of the Court.
He also prayed the court for an order declaring null and void the appointment of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusl as the 16th Emir of Kano State Emirate by the 1st and 4th Defendants pursuant to the provisions of the 23rd Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 in contravention of the order of this court made on the 23rd day of May, 2024.
