Police at alert as court shifts ruling on Sanusi, Bayero Kano emirship tussle

Kano Emir Muhammadu Sanusi

The Federal High Court in Kano has shifted its ruling on the validity of the new Kano Emirate Council (Repeal) 2024 Law to 2:00 pm on Thursday.

Justice A M Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano is expected to rule on the matter.

The repealed emirate council law passed by the Kano State House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is being challenged by one Aminu Babba Dan’Agundi.

The enforcement of the new emirate council reversed the entire Kano emirate council to a single emirate and dissolved the creation of five emirates and their first-class chiefs.

Those dethroned are the 15th Fulani Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, his blood brother and former emir of Bichi, Nasir Ado Bayero, and those of Rano, Karaye, and Gaya.

Subsequently, Governor Yusuf reappointed the 14th Fulani emir of Kano and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

Dissatisfied with the repeal law, Dan’Agundi dragged the state assembly, speaker of the state assembly, and others seeking to restrain enforcement of that repealed law.

Kano state government, (3rd defendant) had moved an application challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal high court to hear the matter. Still, Justice Liman ruled out the application while assuming jurisdiction to listen to the matter.

Although the state assembly and its speaker (1st and 2nd) defendants had notified the court at the last adjourned date, of a notice of appeal and stay of execution, the court insisted “there was no record or evidence to prove such claim.

In a process made available to The Guardian, a notice of appeal was indicated with suit no. CA/KN/126/2024 was filed on 13th June 2024, by the appellants through their counsel, Ibrahim Wangida against taking further proceedings in the suit FHC/KN/CS/182/24, pending a hearing on the appeal.

The notice of entry of appeal, directed to a registrar, FHC, Kano, read: “Take notice that the 1st and 2nd defendants, Kano Assembly and Speaker of the assembly being dissatisfied with the ruling of Justice A.M Liman delivered on Thursday 13th of June, 2024 has appealed against the decision at the court of appeal, Kano division.

“Also filed attached are documents of proceeds, a notice of appeal, the front page of the record of appeal presently before the court of appeal, notice for stay of proceedings and application for departure for the rules,” the notice read.

The appellants believed the trial Judge erred in law when the lower court failed and refused to follow the decision of Supreme Court on the a similar matter.

Despite the notice, Justice Liman vowed to proceed with the judgement reserved for 2pm today.

Meanwhile, the police command in Kano has warned against attempt by any individual or group to foment trouble during or after the Judgement of the court.

Kano State police spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, in a statement said besides warning, the command had made adequate deployment within the court premises and across strategic places around the city to maintain law and other.