A Federal High Court in Kano has nullified the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano, following a lawsuit filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba-Dan’agundi. However, the Kano State government has refused to acknowledge the ruling, insisting that Sanusi remains the emir.
According to court documents, Sanusi was reappointed as emir in March 2020, following the deposition of Aminu Ado Bayero. The reappointment was made under the Kano State Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024, which repealed the 2019 Emirate Council law that established five emirates from the original Kano Emirate.
The court’s ruling declared that all actions taken by the state government following the passage of the law were null and void. However, it did not affect the validity of the law itself. The court also ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante and granted a stay of proceedings pending the hearing and determination of an appeal on jurisdiction.
Despite this ruling, the Kano State government has refused to acknowledge Sanusi’s removal as emir. In a statement, the state government claimed that Sanusi remains in office and ordered the commissioner of police to remove Bayero from his palace for demolition.
The situation has sparked controversy in Kano, with some calling for calm and others demanding adherence to the court’s ruling. The development has also raised questions about the power of the court to nullify an executive decision.
The situation remains fluid, with further developments expected in the coming days.
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