Court stops reinstatement of Emir Sanusi

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has stopped Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The order, according to the judge, is to subsist pending the determination of a substantive suit filed against the reinstatement.

The order also kicked against the abolition of four emirates: Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano.

Recall that the reinstatement was consequent upon a bill earlier passed by the State House of Assembly on Thursday.

The court, however, directed all parties involved to maintain status quo ante pending the determination of the suit filed by Sarkin Dawaki Babba and Aminu Babba-Dan’Agundi on Thursday.

Justice A.M. Liman of the Federal High Court granted leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to issue and serve their concurrent originating motion, as well as all other court processes on the IGP in FCT Abuja and outside the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court.

The defendants in the suit include the Kano State Government, the Kano State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the State Assembly, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Services.

Justice Liman ordered 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 the passage and assent of the bill pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.”

The Judge adjourned the case to June 3, 2024, for hearing.

Governor Abba Yusuf had on Thursday officially announced the re-appointment of Emir Sanusi.