A Kano state court presided by Justice Mohammed Liman has granted an application by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate for the stoppage of reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano state by the Kano state government.
The respondents in the fundamental rights case are 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 ordered that all court processes 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.
Recall that the Kano State House of Assembly, on Thursday, May 23, dissolved all the four newly created emirate councils in the state.
The dissolution of the affected emirates was a sequel to deliberations on the floor of the House during plenary.
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, immediately reappointed former CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the Emir of Kano, four years after he was dethroned by a former governor of the state, Umar Ganduje.
The governor deposed five emirs appointed by Ganduje and gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate their official residences and palaces.
He also directed the affected emirs to hand over all affairs to the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The repealed law, known as the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, had created Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi Emirates in addition to Kano.
The law’s repeal means that the newly created emirates have been dissolved, consolidating the Kano Emirate once again under a single ruler.
