…as court voids his reinstatement, orders return to status quo
. Sets aside law relied upon to dethrone Ado-Bayero, other Kano emirs
Recently reinstated Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, may now be confronted with some fresh troubles as a Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Thursday, set aside all actions taken by the Kano State Government to repeal the Kano Emirates Council Law, which facilitated his re-appointment and return to the ancient throne.
With Thursday’s ruling by Justice Liman, Sanusi’s fate is now hanging in the balance.
Kano State House of Assembly had repealed the law and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had implemented it by dethroning Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano.
Governor Yusuf also reversed the creation of four emirates, Bichi, Rano Karaye and Gaya, and sacked the Emirs appointed by his predecessor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The same law was also relied upon to re-appoint Sanusi, the 14th Emir of Kano, who was dethroned by Ganduje in 2020, as the 16th Emir of Kano.
However, a kingmaker in the former Kano emirate, Aminu Babba Danagundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, who was dissatisfied with the development, challenged the propriety of the law and asked the court, through his counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), to declare it null and void.
The judge while ruling on a motion seeking declaration of the repealed law null and void, as moved by Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, counsel to Danagundi, held that the Kano State Government and the state Attorney General were aware of its restraining order granted virtually on May 23, 2024, but decided to believe that “the order was made abroad.”
The judge held that if court orders are allowed to be disobeyed, anarchy would set in.
He also averred that contempt of court in all ramifications is antithetical to democracy.
The judge ruled, “I hereby order that any steps taken by the defendants to implement the law is set aside.
“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 the 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 further held that he would assume his coercive powers to enforce compliance with his order.
“Having been satisfied that the defendants have become aware of the order but went ahead to implement the law, it is necessary for the court to assume its coercive powers to enforce compliance with its orders,” he said.
But the judge transferred the case to Justice Simon Amobeda for continuation in view of his elevation to the Court of Appeal.
Speaking with newsmen after the ruling, Danagundi said he had been vindicated that due process was not followed in deposing the emirs and reinstating Sanusi.
