Confusion in Kano emirate as Ado Bayero and Sanusi celebrate court order

Confusion in Kano emirate as Ado Bayero and Sanusi celebrate court order

 

The ruling by a Federal High Court in Kano State on Thursday on the Emir of Kano’s dispute has compounded the crisis it was meant to resolve.

Indeed, both removed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero and reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II are celebrating, claiming victory that the court ruled in their favour.

Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman in his ruling on Thursday ordered that the status quo be maintained. No details were given

He went ahead to uphold the action of the Kano State House of Assembly repealing the Emirate Law which brought in Emir Ado Bayero and creation of four Emirates in the state but faulted the state governor Abbah Yusuf’s subsequent actions for not following due process.

Justice Liman declared, “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by the government is hereby nullified and becomes null and invalid and that this does not affect the validity of the repealed Emirates Law but actions taken by the governor, which include the assenting to the law and the reappointment (of Sanusi).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 Kano State Governor in its reaction after the court ruling said Sanusi remained Emir of Kano.

The state government maintained that by the court’s pronouncement, it recognised Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano because his reinstatement had been done before a controversial interim order, which the court alleged the governor flouted in assenting to the Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Bill 2024.

Liman held that the defendants were aware of the interim order granted by the court, but chose to ignore it and went ahead with implementation of the law.

The judge stated that every aspect of the process undertaken by the Assembly to refill the 2024 law was null and void, saying he would assume his coercive powers to enforce compliance with his order.

Respected lawyers including Liborous Oshoma have questioned the Justice Liman’s order, interpreting it to mean giving something with one hand and taking it back with the other hand.