A Federal High Court in Kano on Thursday voided the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
In his ruling, Justice Abdullahi Liman also set aside the new (repealed) emirate law 2024, which purportedly dethroned Aminu Bayero and four other first-class Emirs in the state.
The court further nullified all the actions taken after Sanusi’s reinstatement.
Justice Liman ordered the parties involved to maintain status quo pending the determination of a case filed by Bayero.
The judge held that the defendants were aware of the interim order granted by the court but chose to ignore it and went ahead with implementation of the law.
Justice Liman stated that every aspect of the process undertaken by the assembly to repeal the emirate law was null and void, saying that he would assume his coercive powers to enforce compliance with his order.
“I hereby order that every step taken by the Government is hereby nullified and becomes null and invalid and that this does not affect the validity of the repealed Emirates Law but actions taken by the Governor, which includes the assenting to the Law and the reappointment (of Sanusi).
“I have listened to the audio of the governor both in Hausa and English after assenting to the Law, and I am convinced that the respondents are aware of the order of maintaining status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motions on notice in the court.
“Having been satisfied that the respondents are aware of the court order, the court in exercise of its powers set aside an action because it is in violation of the court’s order, I think it is a very serious matter for anyone to flout the orders of the court and go scot free with it,” he said.
However, the judge transferred the case to Justice Simon Amobeda for continuation in view of his elevation to the Court of Appeal.
