The Court of Appeal in Abuja has temporarily suspended the enforcement of its judgment, which had earlier struck down a Federal High Court ruling nullifying the Kano State Government’s actions regarding the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano.
The ruling, delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Okong Abang, is effective pending a final decision by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, following the legal dispute surrounding the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.
The controversy began after the Kano State House of Assembly passed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which reversed the previous law that had split the original Kano Emirate into five smaller emirates. The new law reinstated Sanusi, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as Emir, a position he was deposed from in 2020. However, his reinstatement faced legal challenges, particularly from Alhaji Aminu Babba-Dan’agundi, one of the traditional kingmakers.
In June 2024, a Federal High Court in Kano ruled that the actions of the Kano State Government in reinstating Sanusi were null and void. The court, however, did not invalidate the law itself. In response, the Kano State House of Assembly, along with other respondents, appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal, which ruled in January 2025 to set aside the lower court’s judgment, ordering the case to be retried. The Appeal Court also held that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter.
Babba-Dan’agundi, dissatisfied with this decision, filed an application before the Appeal Court seeking an injunction to prevent the enforcement of the ruling until the Supreme Court resolves the issue. On Friday, Justice Abang ruled in favor of the injunction, agreeing that Babba-Dan’agundi had a valid and arguable appeal before the Supreme Court. The judge emphasized that granting the injunction was in the interest of justice and necessary to protect the applicant’s legal rights pending the final determination of the Supreme Court.
As part of the ruling, the Appeal Court ordered the respondents – including the Kano State House of Assembly and the Kano State Government – to refrain from enforcing the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on January 10, 2025, pending the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal. Additionally, the parties were instructed to maintain the status quo that existed before the trial court’s ruling in June 2024.
The ongoing legal battle has significant implications for the political dynamics in Kano, where the Emirate Council holds considerable influence over the region’s socio-economic affairs. The outcome of the Supreme Court’s judgment will likely provide a definitive resolution to the conflict, either affirming Sanusi’s reinstatement or reinforcing the legal status quo.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration, which has been at the heart of the dispute, will closely monitor the developments, as the uncertainty surrounding the Emirate’s leadership continues to affect the political landscape in the state.
The final ruling of the Supreme Court is now eagerly awaited, as it will determine the future of Sanusi’s reinstatement and the broader implications for traditional leadership structures in Kano.
