Abba Yusuf orders arrest of dethroned Emir Aminu Bayero

Abba Yusuf, the Kano governor, has ordered “the immediate arrest” of Aminu Ado Bayero.

Bayero was dethroned as Emir on Thursday.

The governor ordered Bayero’s arrest “for creating tension in the state”.

Bayero arrived Kano in the wee hours of Saturday to a hero’s welcome from his supporters.

Muhammadu Sanusi, who was reinstated as Emir at a colourful ceremony on Friday, arrived at the palace at 1am on Saturday alongside the deputy governor, speaker of the state assembly, and other top government functionaries.

Bayero’s aircraft touched down hours later and his convoy was soon speeding from the Aminu Kano International Airport into the bright lights of the city.

The governor’s orders for Bayero’s arrest was contained in a statement issued by Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, his spokesperson.

“The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has ordered the immediate arrest of the former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, for creating tension in the state,” the statement reads.

“The former Emir was smuggled into Kano city last night in an attempt to forcefully return to the palace two days after being deposed by the Governor.

“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest the deposed Emir with immediate effect for disturbing public peace and attempting to destroy the relative peace the state enjoys.”

BACKGROUND

Sanusi became the 14th Emir of Kano in 2014 after the death of Ado Bayero. He was turbaned during the administration of Rabiu Kwankwaso, then governor of the state.

However, Sanusi was dethroned in 2020 by Abdullahi Ganduje, Kwankwaso’s successor, over allegations of insubordination.

Aminu Bayero, son of the late Bayero and Emir of Bichi, was installed as Sanusi’s replacement.

On Thursday, the Kano state assembly repealed the law which was used to unseat Sanusi and balkanise the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions.

Consequently, Yusuf announced the reinstatement of Sanusi as Emir after signing the new Kano Emirate Council Law.

Hours later, a federal high court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.

The order issued by Mohammed Liman, the judge, asked the defendants to “suspend” and “not give effect to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 as they affect all offices and institutions of the Emirate Council created pursuant to the provisions of the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019”.

However, Sanusi was turbaned as the 16th Emir of Kano on Friday.