The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside previous rulings that challenged the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano. The decision was made on Tuesday, with the appellate court also confirming that the case has now been forwarded to the Supreme Court for further deliberation.
A three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill, issued a unanimous ruling that acknowledged the transfer of the case records to the Supreme Court. In light of this, the court instructed all parties involved to refrain from taking any further actions until the apex court hears the appeals.
During the hearing, the Kano State Government’s legal representative, Ibrahim Wangida, informed the court that an appeal had already been filed at the Supreme Court concerning the stay of execution issued on March 14, 2025. He further explained that all required legal steps had been completed, including the official transfer of the appeal record.
Legal precedents dictate that once an appeal record is transmitted to the Supreme Court, any lower court rulings related to the case are effectively put on hold. This means that the previous ruling by the Court of Appeal on March 14, 2025, remains suspended until the Supreme Court reaches a decision.
On March 14, 2025, Justice Abang ordered a stay of execution on an earlier judgment that upheld the reinstatement of Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano. The judge also instructed all parties to maintain the pre-existing state of affairs as they were before the lower court’s ruling on June 13, 2024, in Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024.
However, the Kano State Government, through its legal team, challenged this decision, arguing that the ruling was based on a misinterpretation of constitutional provisions. Wangida pointed out that an appeal had already been submitted to the Supreme Court and should take precedence over any lower court orders.
In response, the appellant’s legal counsel, Abdul Fagge (SAN), stated that there was no objection to the appeal, noting that the Kano State Government had acted within its constitutional rights.
The dispute began after the Kano State Government reinstated Sanusi II as the 16th Emir following the repeal of the Kano State Emirate Council Law 2024. This move led to the removal of Aminu Ado Bayero, who had previously held the position as the 15th Emir. Additionally, four other first-class emirs, appointed under the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, were also dismissed.
Despite his removal, Bayero returned to Kano and took residence at the Nassarawa mini palace under heavy security protection. He has since been engaged in a legal battle against the state government’s decision, further intensifying the emirate dispute.
