By Lucy Adautin
Despite a standing order of the Federal High Court in Kano preventing the Kano State Government from enforcing the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law, Lamido Sanusi was on Friday reinstated as Emir of Kano.
Justice Mohammed Liman granted this order in response to an application by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate.
On Thursday, the Kano State House of Assembly dissolved the four newly created emirate councils in the state. This decision followed deliberations during a plenary session.
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano on Thursday, four years after his dethronement by former Governor Umar Ganduje.
Additionally, Governor Yusuf deposed five emirs appointed by Ganduje and issued them a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate their official residences and palaces. He directed them to hand over all affairs to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
In the latest lawsuit related to the Emir’s position, the respondents in the fundamental rights case include 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.
The court also ordered that all legal documents be served on the IGP in Abuja.
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 in view of 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 in order 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The repealed law, also known as the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, had previously established the Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi Emirates alongside the Kano Emirate.
With the repeal of this law, these newly created emirates have been dissolved, reuniting the Kano Emirate under a single ruler.
