A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has nullified Muhammadu Sanusi II’s reappointment as the 16th Emir of Kano. The presiding Judge, Justice Abdullahi Liman, declared all actions carried out following the passage of the Kano Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024 null and void.
Justice Liman had, however, ordered that parties should maintain the status quo.
The Court also granted the application of the respondents for a stay of proceedings pending the hearing and determination of the case at the Court of Appeal and transferred the case to Federal High Court 3.
The Kano Assembly repealed the law, after which Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf implemented it by dethroning Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano.
Governor Yusuf also reversed the creation of four emirates, which are Bichi, Rano Karaye and Gaya, sacking the Emirs appointed by his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The law was also relied upon to re-appoint the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was dethroned by Ganduje in 2020, as the 16th Emir of Kano.
But a kingmaker in the former Kano emirate, Aminu Babba Danagundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, challenged the propriety of the law and asked the court, through his counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), to declare it null and void.
In his ruling, Justice Liman held that the defendants were aware of the interim order granted by the court but chose to ignore it and went ahead with the implementation of the law.
The judge held that he would assume his coercive powers to enforce compliance with his order.
However, the judge transferred the case to Justice Simon Amobeda for continuation in view of his elevation to the Court of Appeal.
The should give him second chance