Appeal Court stops Sanusi’s reinstatement as Emir of Kano

Court of Appeal in Abuja has put a hold on the enforcement of its recent ruling that upheld the Kano State Government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirate Council Law.

The ruling will remain frozen until the Supreme Court delivers a final judgment on the matter.

The Court of Appeal’s Kano division had earlier overturned a June 20 ruling by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court, which had nullified actions taken under the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024—including the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

Dissatisfied with this ruling, the Kano State Government escalated the battle to the Supreme Court and simultaneously sought an injunction at the appellate level to halt the enforcement of the judgment pending a final decision.

On Friday, a three-member panel led by Justice Okon Abang ruled in favor of maintaining the status quo.

The appeal, filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan (Sarkin Dawaki Babba), sought to restrain the Kano State Government, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, and other security agencies from implementing the ruling.

The legal challenge is centered around whether the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to rule on the Kano Emirate case, a matter traditionally handled by state courts.

The appellate court emphasized the need to preserve the integrity of ongoing legal proceedings, reinforcing the necessity of allowing the Supreme Court to make a final determination.

This latest legal maneuver adds another layer of complexity to the power struggle over Kano’s traditional leadership.

With emotions running high and political interests at stake, the battle for control over the Kano Emirate is far from over.