Court Bars Kano Government From Reinstating Sanusi As Emir

Federal high court in Kano has issued an order restraining the state government from enforcing the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.

Gatekeepers News reports that the Kano State House of Assembly had on Thursday, May 23rd passed the the amended bill.

The bill was signed into effect by Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano.
The law repealed the 2019 version which balkanized the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions and led to the dethrone of
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi in 2020.

Sanusi was then on Thursday reinstated Emir of Kano by kingmakers and the governor, following the repeal of the 2019 legislation.

In a suit filed by Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano emirate, Mohammed Liman, the judge ordered the defendants to suspend the enforcement of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 as it affects all offices and institutions of the Emirate Council created under the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019.

The order issued on Thursday listed the Kano state government, Kano state house of assembly, the speaker of the house of assembly, the attorney-general of Kano, the commissioner of police, the inspector-general of police (IGP), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) as defendants.

The court ruled “That 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.”

“That in view of the constitutional and jurisdictional issues apparent on the face of the application, parties shall address the court on same at the hearing of the fundamental rights application which is fixed for the 3rd of June, 2024.”

“That in order to maintain the peace and security of the state, an interim injunction of this Honourable Court is granted restraining the fifth to eight respondents (CP, IGP, NSCDC and DSS) from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalising the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law.”

“That 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.”

“That this case is adjourned to the 3rd day of June 2024, for hearing of the fundamental rights application.”