By Abiola Olawale
A Federal High Court in Kano has granted an ex-parte order stopping the Kano State Government from enforcing the newly signed, Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law, thereby stopping the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.
The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Liman granted the ex-parte order in an application filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate.
The Sarkin Dawaki Babba had dragged the Kano State Government, the House of Assembly, the Speaker, the Attorney-General, the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the State Security Service, before the court.
The application kicked against the abolishment of four emirates: Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano, respectively.
The Court, in its ruling on Thursday granted an ex-parte order stopping Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State from reinstating Sanusi II pending the determination of a substantive suit filed against the reinstatement.
The judge ruled: “That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into law pending the hearing of the fundamental rights application.
“That given the constitutional and jurisdictional issues apparent on the face of the application, parties shall address the court on same at the hearing of the fundamental rights application which is fixed for the 3rd of June, 2024.
“That to maintain the peace and security of the state, an interim injunction of this Honourable Court is granted restraining the fifth to eight respondents (CP, IGP, NSCDC and DSS) from enforcing, executing, implementing and operationalising the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law.
“That parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into law pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application.
“That this case is adjourned to the 3rd day of June 2024, for hearing of the fundamental rights application.”
“Status quo ante” refers to the previously existing state of affairs.
The New Diplomat had reported that the Kano state House of Assembly on Thursday passed a bill amending the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, which was previously employed by former governor Abdullahi Ganduje of the state to dethrone Sanusi as the 14th Emir of Kano.
The law also abrogated all offices created under the repealed law.
Raising a motion during court plenary on Thursday, the Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Butu, stated that repealing the law passed by the administration of the former Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje would revive the lost glory of Kano.
Following the development, Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, four years after he was dethroned by a former governor of the state, Umar Ganduje.
In addition, the governor deposed five emirs appointed by Ganduje and gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate their official residences and palaces.
