Drama in Kano: Court of Appeal Restores Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir, Strikes Down Controversial High Court Ruling

By Achimi Muktar

In a dramatic turn of events, the Court of Appeal in Kano has overturned a controversial ruling that nullified the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano. The appellate court, sitting in Abuja, declared that the Federal High Court in Kano acted beyond its jurisdiction when it issued the June 20 order that shook the Kano emirate to its core.

The Backstory

The saga began on May 23, 2024, when the Kano State Government enacted the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024. This law not only reversed the creation of five new emirates by the previous administration but also reinstated Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, ousting Aminu Ado Bayero. An aggrieved kingmaker, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, swiftly filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit challenging the new law.

Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano responded with an order directing all parties to maintain the status quo. However, on June 20, Justice Liman went a step further by nullifying the actions taken under the 2024 law, including Sanusi’s reinstatement.

The Appeal Court’s Verdict

Yesterday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, delivered a scathing verdict against the Federal High Court’s decision. The court held that Justice Liman lacked the jurisdiction to hear Agundi’s case in the first place, as matters related to traditional chieftaincy and state laws fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of state High Courts.

Justice Kolawole minced no words: “A court that lacks jurisdiction to entertain a substantive matter also lacks the competence to make any order or grant relief in respect of that matter.” Declaring the Federal High Court’s annulment of Sanusi’s appointment null and void, the appellate court reinstated all actions taken by the Kano State Government under the 2024 law.

A Divided Panel

While Justices Mohammed Mustapha and Abdu Dogo agreed with the core findings, they diverged on whether Agundi’s case should be remitted to the High Court of Kano State. They argued that the suit was fundamentally flawed and a waste of judicial time, opting instead to strike it out entirely.

Bayero’s Appeals Also Addressed

In a related judgment, the Court of Appeal nullified proceedings from the Kano State High Court that denied Aminu Ado Bayero—Sanusi’s predecessor—a fair hearing. The appellate court found that Bayero had been excluded from critical hearings after his legal representation withdrew, rendering the High Court’s decision invalid.

Justice Mustapha ordered that Bayero’s case be remitted to the Kano High Court but assigned to a different judge, ensuring a fresh start for the embattled former emir.

The Ripple Effect

This landmark judgment not only reinstates Sanusi Lamido Sanusi but also reaffirms the jurisdictional boundaries between federal and state courts. It underscores the complexity of navigating traditional institutions within the framework of modern governance.

As the dust settles in Kano, all eyes remain on the next moves of the key players in this legal drama. Will the emirate finally find stability, or is another chapter in this royal saga about to unfold?