A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has set June 13th as the date for a ruling on the jurisdiction of a fundamental human rights suit concerning the Kano Emirate.
The decision was made by Justice Abdullahi Liman after hearing arguments from both the applicants and respondents on whether the court has the authority to entertain the suit.
The suit was filed by Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Emirate, Aminu Dan’Agundi, who is challenging the process that led to the repeal of the Kano Emirate Council Law 2019. This repeal paved the way for the re-appointment of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano by Governor Abba Yusuf.
This follows an earlier order by the Federal High Court in Kano, which stopped the Kano State Government from enforcing the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024.
The current crisis in the Kano Emirate began two weeks ago with the dethronement of Emir Aminu Bayero and four other first-class Emirs of Rano, Gaya, Bichi, and Karaye. Bayero’s dethronement and the reinstatement of Lamido Sanusi as Emir followed the repeal of the law that had been used by former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to depose and exile Sanusi in 2020.
Sanusi, who was the 14th Emir of Kano, was removed from his position by Ganduje’s administration for alleged insubordination. He was subsequently exiled to Awe, a remote community in Nasarawa State. Following these events, the Kano State House of Assembly, controlled by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), passed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024. This new law dissolved all five emirate councils in the state – Bichi, Karaye, Gaya, Rano, and Kano – which had been created by Ganduje.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, security was tight around the court premises. Officers of the Nigeria Police Force and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) positioned their vehicles strategically to maintain order and restrict movement, ensuring there was no breakdown of law and order.
The ruling on June 13th will determine if the Federal High Court has the jurisdiction to proceed with the fundamental human rights case filed by Dan’Agundi, potentially shaping the future governance of the Kano Emirate.
