…As Gov Yusuf Shuns Court Injunction
Muhammadu Sanusi II, the deposed Emir of Kano, has arrived in Kano State ahead of his planned reinstatement to the throne.
The Kano State government had announced its planned reinstatement of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano despite a federal high court order halting the process.
The reinstatement is scheduled to proceed on Friday (today), following the passage and signing of the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 by Governor Abba Yusuf.
On Thursday, the state assembly passed the bill, which repealed the 2019 legislation that divided the Kano emirate into five separate jurisdictions.
The division had been the basis for Sanusi’s dethronement in 2020. After the repeal, the Kano kingmakers and Governor Yusuf moved to restore Sanusi to his former position.
However, hours later, a federal high court in Kano issued an order directing the state government to suspend the new law’s enforcement.
Justice Mohammed Liman instructed the government to “suspend” and “not give effect to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024, as they affect all offices and institutions of the Emirate Council created pursuant to the provisions of the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019.”
The court adjourned the case to June 3 for further hearing on the fundamental rights application.
In an interview with Arise TV, Sanusi Bature, the chief press secretary to Governor Yusuf, dismissed the court’s injunction, claiming it was issued too late to affect the government’s decision.
He said, “The court motion came at a very wrong time and the state government is not bound by the order. The order came at a time when the decision had already been taken and court orders are meant to prevent something that is about to happen.”
He added that Sanusi will receive “the reappointment letter” from the governor on Friday.
Bature further explained that the reinstatement was initiated in good faith to restore the historical continuity and glory of Kano state, which he argued had been compromised by the previous administration.
“Unfortunately for those that filed this case, the court order came many hours after the decision of the governor. The bill that was signed into law emanated from the state house of assembly. It was not even an executive bill,” Bature said.
“After reviewing, the governor decided to restore Kano state’s lost glory. Over a thousand year history of the state has been bastardised by the previous administration.
“The reinstatement of Emir Sanusi was done in good faith by the governor and in the best interest of the people of Kano.
“The court order came at a time when the decision has been taken, and court orders are meant to prevent something that is about to happen.
“The governor gave the order by 5pm and the court order came by 11pm. This is just something that came at a very wrong time, and by law, the state is not bound by this court order.
“Therefore, the Emir is being restored, and the other Emirs were given 48 hours to vacate the palaces.
“Emir Sanusi is already in Kano. He arrived yesterday. By 10am this morning, Emir Sanusi is going to receive the reappointment from the governor in a colourful event and all the district heads will submit to him.”