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  • UPDATED: Appeal Court sets aside order nullifying Sanusi’s appointment as Emir of Kano

    UPDATED: Appeal Court sets aside order nullifying Sanusi’s appointment as Emir of Kano

    The Court of Appeal in Kano has set aside the June 20 order by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, nullifying the steps/actions taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, including the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

    In a judgment on Friday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Kano, which sat in Abuja, held that the order nullifying the steps taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the 2024 Emirates Council Law was made by Justice Liman without jurisdiction.

    The appellate court found that the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by an aggrieved king maker – Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi – on which basis Justice Liman issued the June 20 order, was not only invalid, the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear it 

    The judgment was on an appeal by the Kano State House of Assembly and it’s Speaker marked: CA/KN/140/2024 against Agundi and others. 

    The appeal was against the the June 20 ruling by Justice Liman, nullifying every step taken by the state government and other respondents pursuant to the new law.

    The Kano State House of Assembly enacted the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024 on May 23 last year, which the state governor assented to on the same date. The law repealed the Kano State Emirates Council Law (2019).

    Pursuant to the new law, the Kano State Government among others, sacked Aminu Ado Bayero as Kano Emir, reinstated Sanusi as Emir and reversed the creation of five new Emirates by the preceding administration of Umar Ganduje.

    Aggrieved by the law, Agundi filed his fundamental rights enforcement suit on th same May 23, 2024, following which Justice Liman issued an order, directing parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit ante the passage of the new Emirates Council law.

    In his June 20 ruling, Justice Liman voided all the steps taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the 2024 Emirate Council Law on the grounds that they were taken in violation of his earlier order made on May 23, 2024 directing parties, in Agundi’s fundamental rights suit, to maintain status quo ante.

    In the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held the foundation upon which Justice Liman based 

     the June 20 annulment order was based on the wrong assumption that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to hear the substantive suit, which it actually did not have.

    Justice Kolawole noted that matters concerning the validity of state laws and the regulation of traditional/chieftaincy institutions, which Agundi’s case was all about, do not fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, rather they fall squarely within the jurisdiction of state High Court.

    H added: “Having held that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction, it necessary follows that any order made by the trial court including the annulment of the steps and actions taken by the appellants and others on grounds of disobedience of the order of the lower court has become null and void.

    “A court that lacks the jurisdiction to entertain a substantive matter also lacks the competence to make any order or grant any relief in respect of that matter.

    Read Also: Sanusi returns  for Porto  after almost one year out injured 

    “The annulment order made by the trial court, which is the subject of this appeal, is not sustainable because the said order was made by a court that lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the substantive suit.

    “In view of the above, the order made by the Federal High Court, Kano judicial division by Justice A. M. Liman (now JCA) in suit number: FHC/KN/182/2024, which order was handed down on the 20th of June 2024 nullifying all step’s and actions taken by the appellants and others in pursuant of the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024 is hereby nullified and accordingly, set aside,” Justice Kolawole said.

    Justices Mohammed Mustapha and Abdu Dogo, who were also on the panel agreed with Justice Kolawole’s findings and some orders made, but disagreed with him on his order that the suit by Agundi, marked: FHC/KN/182/2024 be remitted back to the Chief Judge of the HIgh Court of Kano State to be heard on its merit.

    Justices Mustapha and Dogo were of the view that remitting the case to the High Court of Kano for hearing was a waste of judicial time because the case itself was 

    not initiated by due process of law in that it did not relates to any fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter 4 of the Constitution or the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. 

    In an earlier judgment, Justice Kolawole faulted the June 13 ruling by Justice Liman in which he (Liman) held that his court has the jurisdiction to hear the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Agundi.

    The appeal, marked: CA/KN/126/2924 was also filed by the Kano House of Assembly and the Speaker against the June 13, 2024 ruling by Justice Liman, assuming jurisdiction over Agundi’s suit.

    Justice Kolawole noted that the reason given by the trial court to assume jurisdiction was fundamentally flawed.

    He found that the claims brought before the trial court relate to chieftaincy issue and not the interpretation of the Kano Emirate laws, issues fall within the jurisdictional competence of the High Court of Kano State.

    The judge said the Federal High Court could only examine the legitimacy of any law enacted by a State House of Assembly on grounds of constitutional inconsistency, that it is not consistent with the Constitution, which is the grund norm.

    Justice Kolawole awarded a cost of N500,000 in favour of the appellants and against Agundi.

    Justices Mustapha and Dogo agreed with the lead judgment, but also disagreed with Justice Kolawole’s order that the suit by Agundi, marked: FHC/KN/182/2024 be remitted back to the Chief Judge of the HIgh Court of Kano State to be heard on its merit.

    They instead, issued an order striking out the suit.

    In the judgment on the appeals by Aminu Ado Bayero, marked: CA/KN/200/2024 and CA/KN/200A/2024, the Court of Appeal found that the High Court of Kano State denied Bayero fair hearing in its hearing and determination of a case filed by the state government to enforce the new law.

    In the lead judgment, Justice Mustapha held that the trial court did not only fail to issue hearing notice to the appellant (Bayero) after the withdrawal of his lawyer, it proceeded to strike out the court documents files by the appellant “on the nebulous grounds that they had been abandoned.

    He proceeded to hold that the proceedings conducted on July 4, 2024 by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the High Court of Kano State and the judgment delivered of the July 15 are a nullity for having breached the appellant’s right to fair hearing.

    Justice Mustapha ordered that the case in respect of which the appeals were filed should be remitted back to the Chief Judge of the High Court of Kano State to be heard by another judge.

  • JUST IN: Appeal Court sets aside order nullifying Sanusi’s appointment as 16th Emir of Kano

    JUST IN: Appeal Court sets aside order nullifying Sanusi’s appointment as 16th Emir of Kano

    The Court of Appeal in Kano has set aside the June 20 order by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, nullifying the steps taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, including the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

    In a judgment on Friday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Kano, which sat in Abuja, held that the order nullifying the steps taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the 2024 Emirates Council Law was made by Justice Liman without jurisdiction.

    The appellate court found that the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by an aggrieved king maker – Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi –  on which basis Justice Liman issued the June 20 order, was not only invalid, the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear it

    The judgment was on an appeal by the Kano State House of Assembly and its Speaker marked: CA/KN/140/2024 against Agundi and others.

    Read Also: Kalu, Emir Sanusi II, Agary, Abaribe, others raise a voice…

    The Kano State House of Assembly enacted the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024 on

    May 23 last year, which the state governor assented to on the same date.

    Pursuant to the new law, the Kano State Government among others, sacked Aminu Ado Bayero as Kano Emir, reinstated Mohammed Sanusi as Emir, and reversed the creation of five new Emirates by the preceding administration of Umar Ganduje.

    In his June 20 ruling, Justice Liman voided all the steps taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the 2024 Emirate Council Law on the grounds that they were taken in violation of his earlier order made on May 23, 2024, directing parties, in Agundi’s fundamental rights suit, to maintain status quo.

    Details shortly…

  • Emir Sanusi’s moral creed

    Emir Sanusi’s moral creed

    Emir Muhammad Sanusi II has never hidden his radical bent in the arch-conservative institutional setting. His leaning, which is quite natural to him, in past years brought him on collision course with other power centres in relation to expectations of conservative insularity from him by virtue of the royal stool he sits on. But he is who he is, and he does not make hypocritical pretensions about it: he is down to earth and offers no apologies about his blunt outlook on issues.

    The 16th Emir of Kano lived up to billing recently when he said he always told his daughters whenever they were getting married that if their husbands slapped them, he expected them to retaliate. He spoke at a National Dialogue Conference on Gender-Based Violence prevention from an Islamic perspective organised by the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue, Bayero University, Kano (BUK) in partnership with the Development Research and Projects Centre, and with support from Ford Foundation.

    Read Also: Families flock Agodi Garden, Ventural Mall, UI Zoo, others to celebrate Boxing Day

    According to him, gender-based violence isn’t permissible even under religious guise. “You can take that verse and say that as a husband, I’ve been given this permission to beat my wife light. And nobody will deny that, nobody will say it is ‘haram’ if you comply with all the rules. But you live in a society in which those rules are never applied. Nobody who is angry remembers to look for a chewing stick or a handkerchief. They just slap these women and punch them and kick them and beat them,” he said. The emir underscored the depth of the malaise with his findings in a doctoral thesis on family law he just worked on. “I did research on nine courts, nine Shari’a courts in Kano. Forty-one percent of the cases over a five-year period had to do with maintenance. Twenty-six percent had to do with harm. And out of those, 45 percent were cases of wife beating, domestic violence,” he added.

    But his personal response is vintage Sanusi. “When my daughters are getting married, I say to them: ‘If your husband slaps you, and you come home and tell me my husband slapped me, without slapping him back first, I will slap you myself.’

    “Because I did not send my daughter to marry somebody so he can slap her. If you do not like her, send her back to me. But don’t beat her. And we must teach our daughters not to take it,” he stated.

    There must be more effective ways of dealing with the gender abuser other than disproportionate retaliation that could result in worse violence and more grievous harm to the woman. Emir Sanusi can lead the way in seeking such alternatives.

  • Kalu, Sanusi, Abaribe, others seek cultural leadership reforms for national transformation

    Kalu, Sanusi, Abaribe, others seek cultural leadership reforms for national transformation

    Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Ben Kalu; Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II; Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe  and others have called for cultural and leadership reforms to drive national transformation.

    They spoke in Abuja during Nkata Ndi Inyom Igbo (NNII) 2024 Annual Conference

    Kalu, noting the role of women in fostering unity and development, called for cultural and leadership renaissance, stressing women can achieve our transformative goals.

    He praised NNII for addressing GBV, insecurity, marginalisation, and others.

    Kalu said National Assembly would move to enhance gender equality and women participation in governance.

    Reflecting on his tenure in CBN, Sanusi shared the success of policies mandating gender equity in banks, which saw women in top positions.

    He said empowering women is key to resolving malnutrition, education gaps, etc.

    “The woman holds the key to development,” he said.

    Sanusi criticised Nigeria’s approach to social issues and advocated policies prioritising women and child welfare.

     Abaribe decried declining interest in education and traditional values, citing a shift towards materialism and quick wealth as a threat to the community’s development.

    Read Also: Customs intercepts 788kg of Cannabis, hands over suspects to NDLEA

    He warned that this has dire consequences, and called for prioritisation of education and mentorship to restore the Igbo legacy of hard work and enterprise.

    National leader of Pan Nigeria Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, said Nigerian institutions must be accountable and responsive to citizens.

    Clark, represented by PANDEF spokesman, Obiuwevbi Ominimini, said people should work together ‘‘to achieve and sustain inclusive leadership”.

    NNII’s Founder, Josephine Anenih, urged women to tackle our challenges, and called for unity and introspection.

    She noted women will not be passive in face of challenges.

     Former Senate President, Pius Anyim, said justice and fairness can restore societal harmony, while Sen. Rochas Okorocha noted the key role of women and called for an end to outdated gender norms.

    “Women can be presidents and governors. Don’t wait for relevance; create it,” he said.

  • I’ve no hand in fresh plot to dethrone Sanusi – Ganduje

    I’ve no hand in fresh plot to dethrone Sanusi – Ganduje

    The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has absolved himself from an alleged fresh plot to dethrone the Emir of Kano, Mohammad Lamido Sanusi.

    The former Kano State governor also denied being involved in any plan to advise Emir Ado Bayero to abdicate the throne.

    He dispelled the allegations and insinuations circulated in the media in a statement on Thursday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant, Chief Oliver Okpala.

    The statement reads: “A report circulating in the social media captioned ‘Ganduje leads a fresh plot to dethrone Emir Mohammad Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.’

    “The report  quoted “sources within the Kofar Kudu Palace, powerful individuals in Kano, allegedly led by All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, are orchestrating the removal of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor as the 16th Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano Council of Chiefs”

    Reacting to the controversial publication, the statement maintained that nothing could be true about the claims, insisting that Ganduje had nothing to do with the allegation.

    “Dr. Ganduje is no longer the Governor of Kano State, neither is he the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and could not be linked with any fresh plot or plan to dethrone or enthrone anyone as Emir of Kano.

    “It should be made categorically clear that Dr. Ganduje has nothing to do with the present enthronement or dethronement of Emir Mohammad Sanusi in Kano state.”

    The statement further distances Ganduje from an alleged plan to advise Emir Ado Bayero to abdicate the throne.

    “It is laughable that Dr. Ganduje who has left office as Governor for some years now would be accused of masterminding a fresh plot to remove or enthrone an Emir.

    “According to the publication Ganduje is not only alleged to be plotting to remove Emir Sanusi, they said he is also plotting to advise Alhaji Ado Bayero to abdicate his throne as Emir of Kano for peace to reign. This is, to say the least, preposterous and absurd.

    “It must be made clear that Dr. Ganduje has led and Governed  Kano state creditably and since moved on, focusing on other more important national issues, as he leads Nigeria’s governing party, the APC.

    “Ganduje has no further hand in the Kano Emirship issue as he’s very busy with leading the APC

    “He’s satisfied with the enormous contributions he made in terms of massive dividends of democracy, infrastructural developments and the good governance he provided while he held sway as Governor of Kano state.

    “Those who are behind this sinister move to malign the APC National Chairman know what their sponsors are planning and they should leave the very busy Ganduje out of it.

    Read Also: Eid-Maulud: Ganduje felicitates with Muslims

    “By going further to allege that he wants to use his influence in the Presidency to achieve the so-called enthronement and dethronement, reveal the clandestine and dangerous motive of the sponsors of this act to create bad blood between Dr. Ganduje and Aso Rock.

    “Let me reiterate here that Dr. Ganduje has very great respect for the Presidency and the national leader of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

    “The relationship between both parties have been very cordial and no amount of blackmail can destroy the solidity of the partnership.

    “The sponsors of this unsavory publication should know that the people of Kano State love and cherish Dr. Ganduje for his untrammeled services to the people when he served as Governor.

  • Emir Sanusi’s son weds partner in Abuja

    Emir Sanusi’s son weds partner in Abuja

    It was case of different strokes for different folks as the son of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, Ashraf Adam, and his partner, Sultana Nazif, tied the nuptial knot in Abuja yesterday amid nationwide protest.

    The ceremony took place at the national mosque in Abuja and was followed by a glamorous reception.

    The groom later took to his Instagram page to share photos and videos from the event depicting his transition from babanriga and cap into a two-piece black and white suit.

    Read Also: Emir Sanusi’s son gets married in Abuja

    The bride on her part spotted a heavily beaded white dress matched with a veil and lots of pearls.

    The pre-wedding photos the couple released on their social media handles had attracted massive congratulatory messages from other users.

    Sultana is the daughter of Suleiman Mohammed Nazif, a politician from Bauchi State.

    Ashraf, on the other hand, is one of the sons of Muhammad Lamido Sanusi II, the recently restored Emir of kano who is also a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2009 to 2014 when he was suspended by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan in controversial circumstances.

    He later became the Emir of Kano in 2020 but was deposed by Abdullahi Ganduje administration in the state for allegedly “disrespecting lawful instructions.”

    He was, however, reinstated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on May 23.

  • Sanusi to protesters: Don’t be used to destroy Kano

    Sanusi to protesters: Don’t be used to destroy Kano

    • Bayero receives peace envoys, urges dialogue

    The 16th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II has called on the inhabitants of the city not to allow themselves to be used to destroy it, the north as well as the country.

    Addressing newsmen at the palace, Kofar Kudu as news broke that protesters had returned to the streets despite the curfew imposed to check widespread violence, he condemned the violence that erupted in the state on Thursday in spite of appeals by Governor Abba Yusuf for a peaceful demonstration.

    Further condemning the violence which led to loss of lives, injuries and destruction of properties, Sanusi described the incident as a major setback for Kano State.

    The monarch called on the protesters to discontinue with the protest and not to allow themselves to be deceived.

    Sanusi said: “Today is a sad day for the people of Kano as we reflect over the events of yesterday (Thursday).

    “The violence of yesterday was what scholars and leaders kept warning against the possibility that miscreants and agents of destruction would hijack peaceful demonstrations and use the opportunity to cause mayhem which led to loss of lives and destruction of properties and injuries to countless people.

    “As we said during the stakeholders meeting, any violence in Kano only hurts Kano, it hurts innocent people. The young people who died are our children, the properties that were burnt and stolen belongs to the people of Kano.

    “We have set ourselves back. The printing press that was burnt will have to be rebuilt, the machines will have to be bought and these are funds that could have gone into youth empowerment, into poverty alleviation, into education, healthcare and nutrition and for addressing the very problems that we are protesting against.

    “The Digital Centre of excellence that was built by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was aimed at educating our youths to give them digital training and preparing them for examinations.

    “I had personally spoken to the minister and I am aware that the minister was due to come in next week to commission this centre along with the Governor.

    “We have vandalised and destroyed the computers; we have wasted hundreds of millions of Naira that is supposed to be investment in human capital.

    “North and Kano in particular were the most affected by consequences of the protest.

    “I am calling on people of Kano not to allow themselves to repeat what happened yesterday or to be deceived into continuing with this kind of mayhem.

    Read Also: Normalcy returns to Abuja after protesters’ clash with security operatives

    “Parents should advise their children, Ward heads, district heads and imams should call on our people and let them understand that this violence only hurts Kano, only sets Kano back and nobody is going to come and fix our problems.

    “We pray to Allah to have mercy on the souls that have passed away, to restore the wealth of those who have been looted or vandalised, to grant good health to those who are injured in a short time.

    “Let us continue to persevere. Kano has witnessed difficult times before, it has gone through worse than this and it has risen.

    “Let us revive the Kano spirit of strength, of perseverance and upholding steadfast onto God who will lift us up and out of this even stronger.

    “We pray to Allah to support all those who mean well for Kano and to be our protector and sufficient guardian against all of those who wish us evil.

    “We call on the people to maintain the peace, to corporate with security agencies, to report any suspicious activity by human beings.

    “When people steal goods they always find a buyer, let us try and refuse to buy stolen goods and instead encourage those young men and women to return those goods to their owners.”

    Bayero receives peace envoys, urges dialogue

    Also yesterday, the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, received the Kano Coalition of Peace Ambassadors (KCPA), during which he called for calm, patience and continuous dialogue.

    The group staged a walk to the Nasarawa Palace where the monarch is staying and presented their concerns.

    Bayero received the peaceful demonstrators and called for continuous prayers for President Bola Tinubu to address the economic challenges, including hunger, confronting the nation.

    While violent protesters were looting and causing destruction on Thursday, the peace coalition, led by Nasiru Usman, had staged a solidarity rally for the Tinubu administration, appealing for peace.

    The peace ambassadors were seen pursuing the criminal elements who were out to cause mayhem.

    Bayero emphasised the importance of dialogue in achieving desired goals and assured the coalition of peace ambassadors that their concerns would be followed up.

    “Continued engagement and dialogue are key to resolving issues affecting the people,” Bayero said.

    The leader of the coalition, Nasiru Usman, requested that the letter of demands be presented to President Bola Tinubu for action.

    The youth wing of the coalition hailed the President for his youth programmes and student loan.

    Bayero said: We will continue to follow up on issues that concern our people. We are optimistic that the leaders and the president will listen to us.

    “We urge everyone to consider dialogue as a means to ensure that our desired goals are achieved one after the other.

    “I want to assure you of the mutual love and respect between us. We promise to transmit your demands to the leaders at the top,” he said.

  • Palace fire incident bad omen for Sanusi – KYC

    Palace fire incident bad omen for Sanusi – KYC

    The Kano Youth Coalition (KYC) has attributed the fire incident at the palace of former Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II to a bad omen.

    In a statement by its President, Comrade Abdullahi Nuhu, the group said the incident is a clear sign that Allah is angry with the Emir and his cohorts.

    Nuhu said Sanusi’s reinstatement has been rejected by the judiciary, his people and God.

    “The continued occupation of the palace by Emir Sanusi is illegal and a clear disregard for the rule of law,” the statement added. 

    “Despite a court judgment stopping the dissolution of the Kano Emirates, the state government has continued to support his reinstatement. This is a clear violation of the law and an affront to justice.

    “We attribute the fire incident to Allah’s anger with Emir Sanusi’s defiance and disobedience. “

    Quoting from Surah An-Nisa Ayat 14, Nuhu said: “And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits – He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment.”

    Read Also: Why Sanusi was reinstated asEmir of Kano, by Kwankwaso

    The group urged Sanusi to vacate the palace without further delay to avoid more ominous signs, adding that his stay is a threat to peace and stability in Kano.

    ”We also call on the state government to stop supporting this illegality and respect the rule of law. They must act swiftly to address this situation and ensure that justice is served,” Nuhu noted. 

    “We will not stand idly by while the law is flouted and the people of Kano are denied justice. We demand that Emir Sanusi vacate the throne immediately,” it said. 

  • Sanusi vs Bayero: Court adjourns case until July 4

    Sanusi vs Bayero: Court adjourns case until July 4

    Kano State High Court on Tuesday, July 2, adjourned the case concerning the ongoing Kano emirate tussle between reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and dethroned Emir Aminu Bayero and four other first-class emirs to July 4.

    Governor Abba Yusuf had on May 23 reappointed Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano, after assenting to the new (repealed) emirate law enacted by the state House of Assembly. But Bayero is reclaiming his former position in a federal high court.

    Ibrahim Isah-Wangida, counsel to the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Speaker of the State House of Assembly and the House of Assembly, counsel, Ibrahim Isah-Wangida, on May 27, filed a motion ex parte.

    The applicants are seeking an order restraining the 15th Emir, Aminu Ado-Bayero, and four other dethroned Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye from parading themselves as traditional rulers.

    The court then granted an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents, by themselves, servants, and privies, from parading themselves as Emirs in the interest of peace in Kano.

    The respondents are Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero, Alhaji Nasiru Ado-Bayero, Bichi Emir; Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar ll, Emir of Karaye; Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad-Inuwa, Emir of Rano; and Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim-Gaya, Emir of Gaya.

    Others are the Inspector-General of Police, Director, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigeria Army.

    When the case came up for hearing on all pending applications, counsel to the applicants, Eyitayo Fatogun, informed the court that he was served with five processes on July 1 at about 6:30 p.m. by the first respondent.

    Read Also: Police reinforce security for Sanusi, Bayero

    He said: “My Lord, we received the respondent five processes yesterday evening, and we have filed all our responses.

    “We urge the court to give us 30 minutes to stand down to enable us to serve the respondent with our responses.”

    Counsel to Ado-Bayero, Abdul Muhammed SAN, opposed the 30-minute stand-down and sought an adjournment to enable him to reply and file all their applications.

    Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu adjourned the matter until Thursday, July 4 for a hearing of all pending applications and originating motions.

  • Court nullifies Sanusi’s return as Emir of Kano

    Court nullifies Sanusi’s return as Emir of Kano

    •Verdict in Sanusi’s favour, says govt
    •‘Nasarawa palace where Bayero is, to be demolished

    A ruling by the Federal High Court in Kano sank the emirate into more turmoil yesterday.

    Justice Mohammed Liman nullified the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

    While the judge did not invalidate the Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, he held that actions taken so far on its basis were null and void due to the state government’s failure to maintain the status quo as he ordered.

    But, the state government swiftly interpreted the order to be in its favour.

    It asked the police to evict the deposed Emir, Ado Bayero, from the Nasarawa palace, which it said will be demolished for renovation.

    The state government insisted that Sanusi remained the Emir because it received the order for status quo on May 27, having reinstated Sanusi on May 23.

    Justice Liman had granted a virtual order on May 23 restraining the state government from enforcing the Emirate Law that reinstated Sanusi.

    Yesterday, the judge slammed the state government for defying the order.

    Justice Liman noted that Governor Abba Yusuf was aware of the order.

    The governor, on May 23, abolished the four new emirates: Bichi, Karaye, Rano and Gaya which were created by the immediate-past administration of Abdullahi Ganduje, following the passage of a repeal law by the House of Assembly.

    Yusuf deposed Bayero and four other first-class emirs and reinstated Sanusi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, as the 16th Emir of Kano.

    The action returned Kano to a single emirate.

    Following Bayero’s removal, a kingmaker, Aminu Babba Danagundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, challenged the law and obtained the order against its enforcement.

    Yesterday, Justice Liman agreed with the applicant and set aside actions taken based on the law.

    He held that the defendants were aware of the interim order but chose to ignore it by implementing the law.

    Justice Liman ruled: “I hereby order that every step taken by the government is hereby nullified and becomes null and invalid.

    “This does not affect the validity of the repealed Emirates Law but actions taken by the governor, which include assenting to the law and the reappointment of Sanusi.

    “I have listened to an audio recording of the governor, both in Hausa and English, after assenting to the law.

    “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 hereby sets aside all actions taken in violation of the order.

    “It is a very serious matter for anyone to flout the orders of the court.”

    The judge added that the “catastrophic situation could have been averted if the respondents followed due processes by complying with the court order”.

    He noted that the respondents – Kano State Government, the state Assembly, the House of Assembly Speaker, the state Attorney-General, the Commissioner of Police, Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the State Security Service (SSS) – decided to act according to their “whims and caprices”.

    Sanusi remains Emir, says state govt

    Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Haruna Dederi, who represented Yusuf, said the court, by yesterday’s ruling, reaffirmed the validity of the law passed by the House of Assembly and assented to by the governor.

    He directed the police to immediately evict Bayero from the Nasarawa palace.

    Dederi said the government intends to demolish dilapidated parts of the palace for renovation.

    He said at a briefing: “Today (yesterday), the Federal High Court No. 1, Kano passed its ruling in respect of the case before it.

    “I have the honour, on behalf of Governor Yusuf and the Kano State Government, to address you once again over the lingering litigation arising from the abolishing of the five emirates and deposition of the former emirs.

    “The Kano State Government acknowledges the ruling by the Federal High Court regarding the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 and views same as upholding the rule of law.

    “By the ruling of the court, it has unequivocally reaffirmed the validity of the law passed by the Kano State House of Assembly and assented to by the Executive Governor of Kano State on Thursday 23rd May 2024 by 5.10 pm.

    “This part of the judgment is very fundamental to the entire matter.

    “Further implication of the ruling is that all actions done by the government before the emergence of the interim order of the honourable court are equally validated.

    “This means that the abolishing of the five emirates created in 2019 is validated and the deposition of the five emirs is also sustained by the Federal High Court.

    “By implication, this means that Muhammadu Sanusi II remains the Emir of Kano.

    “The judge also granted our application for the stay of proceedings until the Court of Appeal deals with the appeal before it on jurisdiction.

    “Happily, the signing of the law and the reinstatement of His Highness, Emir Muhammad Sanusi II were done on 23rd May 2024 before the emergence of the interim order which was served on us on Monday 27th May 2024.

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    “Following this court’s ruling, the Kano State Government has directed the State Commissioner of Police to remove the deposed Emir of the 8 metropolitan local governments from the government property where he is trespassing, as the government has already concluded arrangements for the general reconstruction and renovation of the property, including the demolishing and reconstruction of the dilapidated wall fence with immediate effect.

    “I want to congratulate and call on the good people of Kano State to remain peaceful and celebrate the success of the people without any hitch.

    “May Allah SWT continue to protect our state and our government.”