Sanusi to receive reinstatement letter today — despite restraining order

The Kano state government says Muhammadu Sanusi will be reinstated as the Emir of Kano on Friday despite a subsisting court order to the contrary. 

On Thursday, the state assembly passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024.

Afterwards, the bill was signed into law by Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano.

The law repealed the 2019 version, which balkanised the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions and was relied upon to dethrone Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir in 2020.

Following the repeal of the 2019 legislation, Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano by kingmakers and the governor.

Hours later, a federal high court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the new law.

Mohammed Liman, the judge, asked the government 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 then adjourned the case to June 3 “for hearing of the fundamental rights application”.

In a chat with Arise TV on Friday, Sanusi Bature, chief press secretary to the Kano governor, said the court motion “came at a very wrong time” and the state government “is not bound” by the order.

He said the order “came at a time when the decision has been taken, and court orders are meant to prevent something that is about to happen”.

The media aide added that Sanusi will receive “the reappointment letter” from the governor on Friday.

“Unfortunately for those that filed this case, the court order came many hours after the decision of the governor. The bill that was signed into law emanated from the state house of assembly. It was not even an executive bill,” Bature said.

“After reviewing, the governor decided to restore Kano state’s lost glory. Over a thousand year history of the state has been bastardised by the previous administration.

“The reinstatement of Emir Sanusi was done in good faith by the governor and in the best interest of the people of Kano.

“The court order came at a time when the decision has been taken, and court orders are meant to prevent something that is about to happen.

“The governor gave the order by 5pm and the court order came by 11pm. This is just something that came at a very wrong time, and by law, the state is not bound by this court order.

“Therefore, the Emir is being restored, and the other Emirs were given 48 hours to vacate the palaces.

“Emir Sanusi is already in Kano. He arrived yesterday. By 10am this morning, Emir Sanusi is going to receive the reappointment from the governor in a colourful event and all the district heads will submit to him.”