By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has officially acknowledged Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II as the legitimate Emir of Kano.
The NBA’s decision to invite Sanusi to their annual conference in Kano suggests a recognition of Sanusi as the incumbent monarch over the deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
This also comes after all the district heads across the 44 local government areas of Kano, the council chairmen, commissioners and well-meaning Kano people and Nigerians considered Sanusi as the rightful occupant of the throne.
The conference currently holding at Amani Event Centre, Kano, has in attendance the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip; NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN; Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Aboki and other legal luminaries, is the first NBA’s annual conference for the entire northern region.
Given the significance of this gathering, the NBA officially invited Emir Sanusi, to not just attend, but to also render his royal blessing and address the participants, according to reports.
Speaking to journalists on the sideline of the conference, Barr O.M Femi said the NBA is not unaware of the legal tussle on the royal throne.
The legal luminary said it is clear that Sanusi is the incumbent Emir of Kano, hence the reason NBA decided to invite the monarch.
He said: “But it is good that the court is to decide so that none of the parties involved would be aggrieved again. The ruling will set a precedence for lawyers and judges on such matters.
“However, you don’t need to be told or to wear binoculars to see that His Royal Majesty Muhammadu Sanusi II is the current Emir of Kano.
“Nothing explains this fact more than what could be deduced from the ongoing NBA’s annual conference attended by Muhammadu Sanusi II by proxy. The recognition accorded him by the legal practitioners of our land tells it all,” he said.
The New Diplomat reports that Kano State has been witnessing massive games of thrones after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf signed the Kano State Emirate Council Law 2024.
The newly- signed law dissolved four new Emirates in the State and restored Kano Emirate to its pre-2019 status on Thursday, May 23.
Yusuf also issued a reappointment letter to Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II on Friday, May 24, as the new Emir of Kano, and ordered the Emirs affected by the new law to vacate their palaces within 48 hours.
It would be recalled also that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Chief Judge of Kano State High Court had given conflicting injunctions on the emirate tussle.
The New Diplomat reports that the Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice S. A. Amobeda, issued an order for the eviction of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, from the Kofar Kudu Palace, while seemingly reinforcing the authority of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from inviting, arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing the Applicant, or infringing on his rights is hereby granted,” Justice Amobeda ruled.
In another development, the Kano State High Court, presided over by Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu, issued an injunction, barring the Police, DSS, and soldiers from evicting Sanusi.
Justice Aliyu emphasised that “An order of interim injunction is granted restraining the Respondents from harassing or intimidating the Applicants or confiscating any symbols of the Emir’s authority.”
“The Respondents are ordered to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
