Late Thursday evening, Justice Liman of the Federal High Court issued an ex-parte judgement prohibiting Governor Abba Yusuf, Kano State Government from reinstalling Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The lawsuit against Sanusi’s reinstatement was filed by a litigant, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Aminu Babba-Dan’Agundi, late Thursday.
Justice Liman granted leave to the Plaintiff/Applicant to issue and serve their Concurrent Originating Motion as well as all other court processes on the 6th Defendant (IGP) in FCT Abuja and outside the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court.
“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage the 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 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 performed the signing at Ante-chamber, Government House before the Speaker of Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. Ismaila Falgore and other Principal Officers of the House.
Speaking shortly after signing the law, Governor Yusuf said the Kano state Emirate law 2019 that divided the over 1000 years Kano Emirate into five has been repealed.
Governor Yusuf announced the reappointment of Muhammad Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.
He then ordered the five Emirs appointed by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to vacate their official residence and hand over their instruments of power to the Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, who doubles as Deputy Governor.
Earlier on Thursday, the Kano State House of Assembly passed the Kano Emirates Council Bill 2024, abolishing the five Emirates crested by former Governor Ganduje.
Ganduje had carved out Bichi Gaya, Karaye, Rano and Kano Emirates , before dethroning the former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.
However, the passage of the Bill into law meant that the five Emirs in Kano have been dethroned and all offices created under the repealed law dissolved, while district heads appointed or elevated under the previous legislation are to revert to their former positions.
The Bill, titled the “Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment No. 2) Law, 2024,” was sponsored by Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, the Majority Leader and representative of the Dala Constituency.
