Court stops reinstatement of Sanusi as Emir of Kano

By Muhammed Yakubu On May 24, 2024

Court , reinstatement ,Muhammadu Sanusi , Emir of Kano — File photo: (L-R) Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II and Abba Kabir Yusuf

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has granted an order suspending the implementation of the repealed Kano Emirate law.

In a suit brought before the Presiding Judge, Justice A.M Liman by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi ( Sarkin Dawaki Babba), on Thursday the Court averred that the implementation and the operation of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 (1445 A.H) be suspended.

Justice Liman ordered that “ An order of Interim Injunction of this honourable Court suspending not giving effect to, not implementing the Operation of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024 (1445 A.H), as they affect all offices and institutions of all the Emirate Councils created under the provision of Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019, (1441 A.H).

“An order of Interim Injunction of this Honourable Court restraining the 5th – 8th Respondents from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalizing the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.

“ In the alternative to relief 3 above, an Order of Interim Injunction of this Honourable court for the maintenance and preservation of the subject matter and or the preservation of the status quo by all parties to this suit, pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiff/applicant’s Originating motion before this Honourable Court as well as AN ORDER of accelerated hearing on this matter.”

Meanwhile, the exparte application dated and filed on May 23, with suit number: HC/Kn/CS/182/2024, has the Kano State Government, House of Assembly, Speaker, 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 as 1st to 8th defendants.

Justices A. M. Liman made the order stopping Sanusi’s reinstatement in a fundamental human rights suit filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi (Sarkin Dawaki Babba) against the Kano State Government and seven others.

After hearing ‘the submissions of Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa, Counsel for the Plaintiff/Applicant, who moved in terms of the Motion paper, and after careful consideration of the application and submissions of Counsel, Justice Liman gave the orders.

“That leave is granted to the Plaintiff/Applicant to issue and serve their Concurrent Originating Motion as well as all other court processes on the 6th Defendant Inspector General of Police) in FCT Abuja and outside the: jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.

“That an Order of this Honourable Court marking the Plaintiff/ Applicant’s Concurrent Originating Motion as well as all other court processes to be served on the 6th Defendant in FCT Abuja and outside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court is granted.

“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into 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 3” 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 5th to 8th Respondents from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalising the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law.

It will be recalled that the Kano State House of Assembly had repealed the state Emirate Council Law 2019 that created an additional four emirates councils.

In the same vein, Kano state Governor Abba Yusuf had assented to the amended bill dethroning Emir Aminu Ado Bayero and reinstated Alhaji Sunusi Lamido as the Emir of Kano.