Due to the conflicting injunctions issued over the Kano Emirate crisis, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has called on the Chief Judges of the Kano State High Court.
The crisis stems from two opposing interim injunctions issued by the courts in Kano State. On Tuesday, Justice S. A. Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano ordered the eviction of reinstated Emir Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II from Gidan Rumfa palace.
Conversely, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the Kano State High Court issued an order preventing the police, State Security Services (SSS), and Nigerian Army from evicting, harassing, or arresting Sanusi.
Sanusi and Aminu Ado Bayero are embroiled in a struggle for the royal throne, leading to protests from their supporters in Kano. Governor Abba Yusuf reinstated Sanusi at a Government House ceremony after repealing a law used by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to depose and exile Sanusi in 2020.
However, on May 23, the Federal High Court in Kano issued an order stopping the state government from enforcing the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024, which had facilitated Sanusi’s reinstatement and Bayero’s dethronement. When Bayero returned to Kano and moved into Nassarawa Palace, Governor Yusuf ordered his arrest to prevent tensions in the state, prompting the deployment of soldiers to Nassarawa Palace.
On Monday, a Kano State High Court ordered Bayero not to present himself as the Emir of Kano and to vacate Nassarawa Palace. Justice Aisha Adamu Aliyu, the presiding judge, also restrained the dethroned emirs of the disbanded emirates from assuming royal roles in Kano.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Kano reiterated on Tuesday its order for Sanusi’s eviction from the palace and directed the police to ensure all rights and privileges due to Aminu Bayero, the 15th Fulani Emir of Kano, are granted to him. The presiding judge, Justice S. A. Amobeda stated that the order aims to serve justice and maintain peace in Kano State.
The order includes, “An interim injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, or any authority from inviting, arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, or harassing the applicant, or interfering with his rights pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.
“An order restraining the 3rd, 4th, and 5th respondents and all other respondents from denying the applicant the use of his official residence and palace at the Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu, and from evicting anyone residing there illegally pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.”
The case has been adjourned to June 4 for a hearing.
