…orders return to status quo
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Thursday, nullified the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
The court also nullified all the actions taken after Sanusi’s controversial reinstatement.
Delivering his judgement, Presiding judge, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman said, “I hereby order that every step taken by the Government is hereby nullified and becomes null and invalid and that this does not affect the validity of the repealed Emirates Law but actions taken by the Governor, which includes the assenting to the Law and the reappointment (of Sanusi).
“I have listened to the audio of the Governor both in Hausa and English after assenting to the Law, and 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 exercise of its powers, set aside an action because it is in violation of the court’s order. I think it is a very serious matter for anyone to flout the orders of the court and go scot free with it.”
The judge said the catastrophic situation could have been averted if the respondents had followed due processes by complying with the court order, which would still have allowed them to carry out their assignments.
Justice Liman noted that the respondents however decided to act according to their whims and caprices, a situation which he said landed them in a serious mess.
