Emirship tussle: Police deploy more operatives to Sanusi, Bayero’s palaces

The Kano police command says additional security operatives have been deployed to the palaces of Muhammadu Sanusi, Emir of Kano; and Aminu Bayero, the deposed Emir.

Sanusi currently resides at the official lodge of the emir in Kofar Kudu, while Bayero occupies the Nassarawa LGA mini palace.

Speaking in an interview with NAN on Monday, Usaini Gumel, Kano commissioner of police, said security operatives were deployed to “handle any unforeseen circumstances” in the palaces.

The Kano CP urged the public to support the police and provide information that could aid the maintenance of law and order in the state.

On Sunday, police personnel stormed the emir’s palace in Kano and displaced the local guards watching over Sanusi.

GAME OF THRONES

There has been palpable tension in Kano since Sanusi was reinstated as emir, following the dethronement of Bayero by the state government.

On May 23, the Kano house of assembly passed an amended bill, which Abba Yusuf, the governor, signed into law.

The law repealed the 2019 version which divided the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions and was relied upon to dethrone Sanusi as emir in 2020.

On the same day the law was repealed, Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano by kingmakers and the governor.

On Thursday, the federal high court in Kano nullified all actions on the emirship tussle as taken by the state government.

Muhammed Liman, the presiding judge, held that the defendants were aware of an interim order previously granted by the court but ignored it and implemented the Kano Emirate Council Law 2024.

The judge, however, ruled that his order did not affect the validity of the emirate law passed by the state house of assembly.

The Kano police command had also said it would not comply with the directive of the state government on the eviction of Bayero from the Nassarawa palace.

Bayero moved into the LG palace hours after he was replaced by Sanusi.

Since his return to the Nassarawa palace, Bayero has been protected by a retinue of soldiers and police officers.