Emirate Tussle: Kano Govt Loses As Court Nullifies Emir Sanusi’s Appointment

•  Respite for Emir Bayero, Others

A Federal High Court in Kano has nullified all the steps taken by Kano State government to repeal the Kano Emirates Council Law and dethrone Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano

A kingmaker in the former Kano emirate, Aminu Babba Danagundi, (Sarkin Dawaki Babba), had dragged the Kano State government to court challenging the propriety of the law.

In the suit, Danagundi urged the Court, through his counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), to declare the said law null and void and of no effect.

Ruling on a motion seeking to declare the repealed law null and void as moved by Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN) counsel to Danagundi, the presiding judge, Justice Abdullahi Liman, also nullified all the actions taken after the controversial reinstatement.

According to Justice Abdullahi Liman; “I hereby order that every step taken by the government is hereby nullified and becomes null and invalid and that this does not affect the validity of the repealed Emirates Law but actions taken by the governor which include the assenting to the law and the reappointment of Sanusi.

“I have listened to the audio of the governor both in Hausa and English after assenting to the law, and I am convinced that the respondents are aware of the order of maintaining status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motions on notice in the court.

“Having been satisfied that the respondents are aware of the court order, the court, in the exercise of its powers, set aside an action because it is in violation of the court’s order, I think it is a very serious matter for anyone to flout the orders of the court and go scot free with it.”

He said the catastrophic situation could have been averted if the respondents followed due processes by complying with the court order, which would still have allowed them to carry out their assignments.

He noted that the respondents, however, decided to act according to their whims and caprices, a situation which he said landed them in a serious mess.

The Court held that the Kano State government and the attorney general were aware of its restraining order granted virtually on May 23, 2024, but decided to believe that “the order was made abroad.”

He further held that if court orders are allowed to be disobeyed, anarchy would set in, maintaining that contempt of court in all ramification is anti-democracy.

The judge held that he would assume his coercive powers to enforce compliance with his order.

However, the judge transferred the case to Justice Simon Amobeda for continuation in view of his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

Reacting to the Court’s ruling, Danagundi told journalists that he had been vindicated that due process was not followed in deposing the Emirs and reinstating Sanusi to the throne

Forefront News recalled that following the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA)’s action repealing the Emirate law, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had quickly implemented it by dethroning Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano.

Additionally, Governor Yusuf reversed the creation of four emirates, Bichi, Rano Karaye and Gaya, while also dismissing all the Emirs appointed by his predecessor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje from office.

Similarly, the now contentious law was also relied upon by Governor Yusuf to re-appoint the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was dethroned by former Governor Ganduje in 2020, as the 16th Emir of Kano.