Court stops Kano govt from returning Sanusi

Justice Liman of the Federal High Court has issued an ex-parte judgement prohibiting Governor Abba Yusuf and the Kano State Government from reinstalling Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The duo of Sarkin Dawaki Babba and Aminu Babba-Dan’Agundi were said to have filed the lawsuit against Sanusi’s reinstatement late on Thursday.

Justice Liman granted leave to the plaintiffs to issue and serve their Concurrent Originating Motion, as well as all other court processes on the 6th Defendant (IGP) in FCT Abuja.

“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante on the passage and assent of the bill into pending 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 Respondents from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalizing the Kano State Emirate Law Council (Repeal) Law.

“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante on the passage and assent of the bill into pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.

The judge adjourned the case to 3rd June, 2024 for hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.

Governor Abba Yusuf had on Thursday officially announced the re-appointment of Emir Sanusi shortly after signing a new bill on the Kano Emirate into law.

He said the Kano State Emirate law 2019 that divided the over 1,000 years Kano Emirate into five has been repealed.

Yusuf announced the reappointment of Muhammad Sanusi 11 as the Emir of Kano and gave the five Emirs appointed by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje 48 hours to vacate their official residence.