Security agencies will obey court order against Sanusi’s reinstatement, say police

The Kano state police command says law enforcement agencies will obey the court order which ruled against the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir.

On May 23, a federal high court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.

The law repealed the 2019 version which was used to oust Sanusi as Emir in 2020.

The amended law passed by the legislature, and assented to by the governor, restores the old order and invalidates the creation of five emirates.

Ruling in a suit filed by Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano emirate, 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”.

The court also ordered that all processes be served on the inspector-general of police (IGP) in Abuja.

The judge ruled that “all parties” should “maintain status quo until June 3, 2024″.

Addressing a press briefing at the headquarters of the command on Saturday morning, Usain Gumel, commissioner of police in Kano, said law enforcement will act in line with the ruling.

Gumel addressed the press alongside a brigade commander of the Nigerian Army and officials of other security agencies.

“The police command is expressly obeying the Court Order with SUIT No. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024 Dated 23rd May, 2024 issued by the federal high court sitting in Kano alongside all law enforcement agents in the state,” Gumel said.

“Therefore, we are calling on members of the public to know that the police in the state is working together with the military and other security agencies to provide the adequate security to everyone, as we are committed to carrying out our statutory duties as provided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Sanusi was reinstated as Emir on Friday by Abba Yusuf, the Kano governor.

In the wee hours of Saturday, Aminu Bayero, the dethroned Emir, arrived Kano barely hours after Sanusi had sauntered into the palace.

The Kano governor immediately ordered the arrest of the deposed Emir.