- Orders eviction of deposed Emir, Bayero, from ‘mini palace’
- To demolish, reconstruct property
- Confusion over interpretation of Thursday court ruling
Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, has set aside the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of the prestigious Kano Emirate.
Though the judge, on Thursday, refused the application to declare the amended Kano Emirate law null and void, he overturned all the actions taken by Governor Abba Yusuf after the controversial law was amended by the Kano State House of Assembly on May 23, 2024.
Justice Liman faulted the governor’s assent to the bill and the presentation of an appointment letter to Emir Sanusi on May 24, 2024 despite an order of court directing all parties to maintain status quo.
However, the Kano State government insisted that Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II is still the Emir of Kano.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, Haruna Isah Dederi, said this during a press conference held at the Government House on Thursday evening.
In his judgement, the judge said he listened to the statement of governor in the media after assenting to the law, and he was convinced that the respondents (the governor and Kano State House of Assembly) were aware of the order of maintaining status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motions on notice in the court.
Justice Liman said the mess in the state could have been prevented if the respondents complied with the court order, which would still have allowed them to carry out their assignments.
The politics of the ancient and prestigious Emirate of Kano has thrown up some controversial twists and turns in the last ten years.
While not as dramatic and shocking as the popular American fantasy drama series, ‘Game of Thrones’, its latest twist is the stuff of a movie script where either a centuries-old tradition or politics wins.
Two royal families have been in a supremacy battle in the ancient city: the Bayero and the Sanusi families.
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II beat Aminu Ado Bayero to succeed the latter’s father, Emir Ado Bayero, in 2014.
Three months shy of six years later, he would be deposed for his predecessor’s son, Aminu Ado Bayero, amid a fallout with the state governor at the time, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Four years and a change of administration later, Governor Yusuf re-appointed Sanusi, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, as Kano Emir after the state Assembly amended a controversial law that broke the emirate into five.
However, a kingmaker in one of the former emirates, Aminu Babba Danagundi, challenged the propriety of the law and asked the court to declare the repealed law null and void.
Sanusi remains Emir – Kano government insists
But the Kano State government has said the ruling delivered by a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, earlier on Thursday, shows Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II is still the Emir of Kano.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for justice, Haruna Isah Dederi, said this during a press conference held at the Government House on Thursday evening.
He said, “Today 20th June, 2024, the Federal High Court No. 1, Kano had passed its ruling in respect of the case before it. I have the honour, on behalf of His Excellency Gov. Abba K. Yusuf and the Kano State Government, to address you once again over the lingering litigation arising from the abolishing of the five emirates and deposition of the former emirs, (including the deposed emir of 8 metropolitan local governments). The Kano State Government acknowledges the ruling by the Federal High Court regarding the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 and views the same as upholding the rule of law.
“By the ruling of the Court, it has unequivocally reaffirmed the validity of the law passed by Kano State House of Assembly and assented to by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Kano State on Thursday 23rd May, 2024 by 5:10pm. This part of the judgement is very fundamental to the entire matter.
“Further implication of the ruling is that all actions done by the government before the emergence of the interim order of the honorable Court are equally validated. This means that, the abolishing of the five emirates created in 2019 is validated and the deposition of the five emirs is also sustained by the Federal High Court. By implication this means that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the emir of Kano.
“The judge also granted our application for the stay of proceedings until the Court of Appeal deals with the appeal before it on jurisdiction. Happily, the signing of the law and the reinstatement of His Highness, Emir Muhammad Sunusi II was done on 23rd May, 2024 before the emergence of the Interim Order which was served on us on Monday 27th May, 2024.”
Residents express mixed feelings
Kano city remained calm on Thursday evening despite the Federal High Court judgment which nullified Emir Muhammad Sanusi’s reinstatement as the 16th Emir of Kano.
Journalists who went around the city around 5:30 pm noted that despite the judgment, residents were seen going about with their normal businesses as the human and vehicular movement continued unhindered even around the main palace where Sanusi is staying.
It was, however, observed that armed policemen and other security personnel earlier deployed to some strategic places including the main Palace and the mini palace were still on the ground to maintain law and order.
It was also observed that business premises were also operating without any hindrance.
Some supporters of the deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero at the Nasarawa mini palace were seen in groups exchanging greetings among themselves in reaction to the judgement.
The Kano Police Command had earlier on Thursday issued a statement reminding residents that the ban on processions, protests, and unlawful gatherings is still in force.
The statement, which was issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, warned that any person or group of persons found violating the order would be arrested and prosecuted.
The statement further urged residents to be law abiding and avoid acts capable of breaching peace in the state.
At about 5:50 pm, there was no report from any part of the eight metropolitan local governments of any violence or protest against the judgement.
Meanwhile, some residents have expressed mixed feelings about the court judgement.
While some expressed happiness over the court judgement, others were indifferent, insisting that all Kano wants is peace at this time “when people are battling to get what they will eat.
“It has been more than one month now since Kano has not seen peace, people are tired of this situation,” one of the residents said.