Justice Liman of the Federal High Court has issued an ex-parte judgement preventing Governor Abba Yusuf and the Kano State Government from reinstalling Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Aminu Babba-Dan’Agundi, challenging Sanusi’s reinstatement.

The court’s judgement, reported by Platinum Times Nigeria, grants the plaintiff permission to serve court processes on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Abuja and outside the court’s jurisdiction. The judge ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the Fundamental Rights application, which is scheduled for June 3, 2024.

Governor Yusuf had announced Sanusi’s reappointment shortly after signing a new bill on the Kano Emirate into law. The signing ceremony took place at the Ante-chamber of the Government House, attended by the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon. Ismaila Falgore, and other principal officers.

The new law repealed the 2019 Kano Emirate law, which had divided the over 1000-year-old Kano Emirate into five. Governor Yusuf’s announcement also directed the five Emirs appointed by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to vacate their official residences and return their instruments of power to the Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, who also serves as the state Deputy Governor.

Earlier, the Kano State House of Assembly passed the Kano Emirates Council Bill 2024, abolishing the five emirates created by Ganduje. This legislative move followed the deposition of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi on March 9, 2020, and the subsequent amendments to the law that had established the new emirates.

The court’s interim injunction aims to maintain peace and security in the state by restraining the respondents from enforcing the new Kano State Emirate Law Council (Repeal) Law until the Fundamental Rights application is heard.