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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Kano State Government, on Friday, reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi as the Emir of Kano despite a subsisting court order to the contrary.
On Thursday, the state assembly passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024.
The bill was subsequently signed into law by the state governor, Abba Yusuf.
The law repealed the 2019 version, which balkanised the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions and was relied upon to dethrone Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir in 2020.
Following the repeal of the 2019 legislation, Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano by kingmakers and the governor.
Hours later, a Federal High Court in Kano ordered the state government not to enforce the new law.
Justice Mohammed Liman, asked the government to “suspend and not give effect to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024 as they affect all offices and institutions of the Emirate Council created pursuant to the provisions of the Kano State Emirate Council Law, 2019.″
He adjourned the case to June 3 “for hearing of the fundamental rights application.”
However, Newspeakonline gathered that Sanusi was presented with his letter of reinstatement by the governor around 10am, on Friday.
Sanusi, it was learnt, arrived at Kano State Government House around 9:34am to receive his letter of appointment and the mini-durbar ceremony before resuming duty as the new Emir.
Sanusi, who was honoured with a homecoming reception late Thursday, is expected the Muslim Jumat prayers (Friday) at the Kano Central Mosque located at the palace in Kofar Kudu.
Earlier, in a chat with Arise TV on Friday, Sanusi Bature, Chief Press Secretary to the Kano State Governor, said the court order “came at a very wrong time and the state government is not bound by the order.”
He said the order came at a time when the decision had been taken, and court orders are meant to prevent something that is about to happen.
The media aide added that Sanusi will receive “the reappointment letter” from the governor on Friday.
“Unfortunately for those that filed this case, the court order came many hours after the decision of the governor. The bill that was signed into law emanated from the state House of Assembly. It was not even an executive bill.
“After reviewing, the governor decided to restore Kano State’s lost glory. Over a thousand year history of the state has been bastardised by the previous administration.
“The reinstatement of Emir Sanusi was done in good faith by the governor and in the best interest of the people of Kano.
“The court order came at a time when the decision has been taken, and court orders are meant to prevent something that is about to happen.
“The governor gave the order by 5pm and the court order came by 11pm. This is just something that came at a very wrong time, and by law, the state is not bound by this court order.
“Therefore, the Emir is being restored, and the other Emirs were given 48 hours to vacate the palaces.
“Emir Sanusi is already in Kano. He arrived yesterday. By 10am this morning, Emir Sanusi is going to receive the reappointment from the governor in a colourful event and all the district heads will submit to him,” Bature said.