Sanusi vs. Bayero: A court nullified Sanusi’s reappointment as Emir, but Kano State insists he remains in power. The ensuing legal and political battle highlights Kano’s intense royal power struggle.

In a plot twist worthy of a Shakespearean drama, Kano’s royal saga continues to enthrall and baffle. Yesterday, a Federal High Court sitting in Kano nullified the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano. But the Kano State government, refusing to be outmaneuvered, swiftly countered the ruling, insisting that Sanusi remains the Emir. The ensuing clash between tradition and modernity, law and power, has left Kano’s royal authority in confusion.

The court ruling came after Alhaji Aminu Babba-Dan’agundi, through his counsel, filed a motion on May 23, seeking to halt the implementation of the Kano State Emirate (Repeal) Law 2024. This controversial law, which repealed the 2019 Emirate Council law, led to the dissolution of the newly created emirates and the reinstatement of Sanusi as Emir, replacing Aminu Ado Bayero.

Justice Abdullahi Muhammad-Liman, delivering the judgment, declared all actions following the passage of the repeal law null and void. He emphasized the importance of adhering to court orders, noting,

“The catastrophic situation could have been averted if the respondents followed due processes by complying with the court order.”

Despite the ruling, the Kano State government remains defiant. They have ordered Ado Bayero to vacate the Gidan Nassarawa mini palace for demolition, further intensifying the standoff. The respondents, which include the Kano State Government and several security agencies, have been granted a stay of proceedings, pending the outcome of their appeal on the court’s jurisdiction.

The legal chess game continues as both sides prepare for further battles in higher courts. This saga is not just a clash of personalities but a profound struggle over power, law, and the future of Kano’s traditional institutions.