By: Nwakaji Peace Martins
A Federal High Court in Kano, on Thursday evening, granted an ex-parte motion preventing the Kano State Government from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The case was initiated by a title holder in the Kano Emirate Council, Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, against the Kano State Government, Kano State House of Assembly, and the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly.
The Attorney General of the State, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Inspector General of Police, and Department of State Security were also included as the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th respondents in the case.
The court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo before the passage and approval of the bill until the hearing of the fundamental rights applications.
To ensure peace and security in the state, the court specifically granted an interim order restraining the 5th to 8th respondents from enforcing, executing, implementing, and operationalizing the Kano State Emirate Law.
Furthermore, the court stated that due to the constitutional and jurisdictional issues evident in the application, the parties must address the court on these matters during the hearing of the fundamental rights application scheduled for June 3, 2024.
The Plaintiff/Applicant was granted permission to issue and serve their Concurrent Originating Motion and all other court processes on the 6th defendant (IGP) in FCT Abuja and outside the jurisdiction of the court.
The court then adjourned the case to June 3, 2024, for the hearing of the fundamental rights application.
It is worth noting that on the same Thursday at around 5:16 pm, the Kano State Government reinstated the former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as the new Emir of Kano.
The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, announced his reinstatement after consulting with the kingmakers of the Emirate Council as per tradition.
During the announcement, he signed the new Kano Emirate Council Law 2024 following its passage by the Kano State House of Assembly earlier that morning.
Governor Yusuf invalidated all appointments made under the repealed Kano Emirate Council Law and relieved all five Emirs (Kano, Rano, Gaya, Karaye, and Bichi) of their positions and ranks.
The deposed Emirs were given 48 hours to vacate their offices and palaces, with orders to hand over all official property belonging to the emirates to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
