Muhammadu Sanusi II has been reinstated as the Emir of Kano following the presentation of his appointment letter by Governor Abba Yusuf on Friday, May 24, 2024.
This ceremony, held at the Government House in Kano, marked Sanusi’s return to the throne four years after his removal by the previous governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
During the presentation, Governor Yusuf stated, “We return Sanusi out of conviction that he was victimised in 2019. We also return him as the rightful Emir of Kano, to continue the good job he was doing for the good of the Kano People.”
Governor Yusuf emphasised that Sanusi’s reappointment was based on the collective belief in his competence, dedication, and zeal for the development of Kano State.
He urged Sanusi to be guided by Islamic teachings and work towards uniting the family of Ibrahim Dabo and the various Islamic sects.
The event happened despite an injunction from a Federal High Court in Kano on Thursday restraining the governor and the state government from implementing the new emirate law under which Sanusi was reinstated.
The law, passed on Thursday by the state House of Assembly and assented to immediately by Governor Yusuf, dissolved the four emirates carved out of the Kano emirate in 2019 and removed the emirs.
The four additional emirates were created by the immediate past administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who also appointed the five emirs after removing Mr Sanusi.
Yusuf had earlier said he reinstated Sanusi in fulfillment of a campaign promise. The governor said the new law provided for the reinstatement of Sanusi and the removal of the former emirs of Kano, Gaya, Karaye, Bichi and Rano.
But in a Thursday ruling, Justice AM Liman, in suit number FHC/KN/CS/182/2024, ordered the state government and the other parties involved to stop the implementation of the new emirate law pending the hearing of the substantive case.
A title holder in Kano emirate, Aminu Dan’agundi, filed the suit to challenge the government’s decision.
But reacting to the court order while presenting the reinstatement letter, Governor Yusuf vowed to report what he described as the abuse of court orders to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
Yusuf said, “The person that issued the court order was in America but he is ordering us to stop what we are doing. This issue of abuse I must present before the Governor’s Forum so that we can tackle it accordingly.
“We are agents of following due process, that’s why we did what we did openly before everybody. Those that are meant to maintain that rule of law remains must follow that also.”
Understanding the (Interlocutory Injunction) Legal Basis for Deposing Monarchs in Nigeria: Governors’ Authority and Historical Precedents
An Interlocutory Injunction, a court order requiring a party to do a specific act (mandatory) or refrain from doing a specific act (prohibitory) pending the final outcome of proceedings, provides legal authority to remove a monarch from the throne in Nigeria. The process and legality of such removals do vary however based on specific circumstances and applicable state laws.
Whilst the legal authority for a governor to remove a monarch from the throne is not explicitly stated in the federal constitution, the practice is based on constitutional interpretations and historical precedents. Governors exercise their powers based on legal interpretations and customary practices.
In the case of Emir Sanusi, although the constitution does not explicitly grant authority, the governors have historically wielded significant influence over traditional institutions.
Nigeria’s traditional rulers are widely respected as custodians of religion and culture, even though the constitution does not explicitly define their role. Their influence extends beyond legal provisions, as they play essential roles in maintaining cultural heritage and community cohesion. Their influence is often symbolic rather than having direct legal power.
In some cases, the removal of a monarch may be challenged in court. The judiciary can review the governor’s decision to ensure it adheres to legal procedures and constitutional provisions.
For instance, in November 2019, Nigeria’s Supreme Court dethroned an oba in Oyo state, declaring the process of his ascendancy to the throne illegal.
In another case in Ondo State, an Ondo high court recently sacked the Olute of Ute, Oba Michael Adetunji Oluwole, from the throne after a legal tussle spanning 29 years.
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