A Federal High Court in Kano has issued an interim order restraining the Kano State Government from enforcing the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law.
News About Nigeria understands that the order was granted by Justice Mohammed Liman in response to an application filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate.
The new law is aimed at dissolving the emirate councils created in the state five years ago.
The court’s decision comes on the heels of the Kano State House of Assembly’s dissolution of the four newly created emirate councils – Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi – which were established in addition to the Kano Emirate. The dissolution followed deliberations on the floor of the House during plenary on Thursday.
Recall that Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Thursday reappointed Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, four years after he was dethroned by former Governor Umar Ganduje. The governor also deposed five emirs appointed by Ganduje and gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate their official residences and palaces.
The latest lawsuit concerning the Emir’s seat has the Kano State Government, House of Assembly, Speaker, Attorney-General, Commissioner of Police, Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and State Security Service as respondents.
The court ordered that all court processes be served on the Inspector-General of Police in Abuja.
In his ruling, Justice Liman ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante (the previously existing state of affairs) pending the hearing of the fundamental rights application, which is fixed for June 3, 2024. He also granted an interim injunction restraining the police and other security agencies from enforcing, executing, implementing, and operationalizing the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law.
The repealed law, known as the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, had created the additional emirates, which have now been dissolved, consolidating the Kano Emirate once again under a single ruler.
