Jubilation in Kano as A’Court rule in favour of Emir Sanusi
The residents of Kano state in Northwest Nigeria are celebrating after the Court of Appeal in Abuja overturned a High Court decision that had nullified the reappointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.
This ruling has sparked jubilations among his supporters, as it reinstates his position as Emir, which had been contested in the lower court.
The Appeal Court ruled that, Bayero’s case, which sought to challenge Emir Sanusi’s position, lacked merit.
In a judgement, a three-member panel of the court of Appeal, led by Justice Mohammed Mustapha, voided the June 20, 2024, decision of Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court, which invalidated the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024 that facilitated Sanusi’s reappointment.
The appellate court held that, Justice Liman was bereft of the jurisdiction to nullify the steps the Kano State Government took pursuant to the 2024 Emirates Council Law.
The court held that, a fundamental rights enforcement suit that was filed by an aggrieved kingmaker in the state, Alhaji Aminu Agundi, which the high court judge relied upon to issue the order, was incompetent.
It emphasised that, the principal reliefs sought by Bayero fell outside the scope of fundamental human rights and were, related to chieftaincy matters.
Citing Section some relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution, the court pointed out that, the Federal High Court does not have the authority to handle issues related to chieftaincy.
In another judgement, the Appeal court ordered a fresh hearing of the suit the embattled 15th Emir, Bayero, filed to challenge the decision of Governor Yusuf to unseat him.
The court forwarded the case back to the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court to be reassigned to another judge for expeditious hearing and determination.
The Appeal Court judgement has been hailed by Emir Sanusi’s supporters, with celebrations erupting in some parts of Kano, as many see it as a victory not only for the Emir but also for the integrity of the state’s traditional institutions.
The court’s decision is expected to bring to an end the prolonged legal battle on Kano chieftaincy matter.
Recalled that, the Kano State House of Assembly had on May 23, last year, enacted the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which the state Governor, Abba Yusuf, assented to on the same day.
Governor Yusuf among other things, deposed the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and also reversed the status of the emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye emirates to that of district heads, following the collapse of their emirates.
The Governor also, reappointed the 14th Emir of Kano, Mohammadu Sanusi II, who was deposed in 2020 by the immediate past Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who had also enacted the law that splits the Kano emirates into five.
One of the kingmaker Alhaji Dan Agundi, and the Sarkin Dawaki Babba who was dissatisfied with Sanusi’s reappointment
challenged the decision in court and secured an order for the maintenance of status quo, so as to allow the deposed 15th Emir, Bayero, to remain on seat.
