The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court to address conflicting injunctions issued in relation to the ongoing Kano Emirate crisis.
The crisis has seen two courts in Kano State issue opposing interim orders regarding the status of the reinstated Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, and the deposed Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero.
On Tuesday, Justice S. A. Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano ordered the eviction of Sanusi from Gidan Rumfa Palace.
This order came in direct conflict with an earlier injunction from Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the Kano State High Court, which restrained the police, State Security Service (SSS), and the Nigerian Army from evicting, harassing, or arresting Sanusi.
The legal battle between Sanusi and Bayero has incited protests among their supporters in Kano.
Sanusi was reinstated by Governor Abba Yusuf following the repeal of the law used by former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to depose and exile him in 2020.
However, on May 23, the Federal High Court in Kano issued an order prohibiting the state government from enforcing the Emirate Council Repeal Law 2024, which had facilitated Sanusi’s reinstatement and Bayero’s dethronement.
In response, Governor Yusuf ordered Bayero’s arrest upon his return to Kano and his move into Nassarawa Palace, citing concerns about escalating tensions.
This led to the deployment of soldiers to the palace. On Monday, a Kano State High Court restrained Bayero from presenting himself as the Emir of Kano and ordered his eviction from Nassarawa Palace.
Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu also restrained the dethroned emirs of the disbanded emirates from assuming royal roles in Kano.
Court Orders Sanusi’s Eviction
On Tuesday, the Federal High Court sitting in Kano ordered the eviction of Sanusi from Gidan Rumfa Palace.
The court also mandated that all rights and privileges due to Aminu Bayero, the 15th Fulani Emir of Kano, be restored to him.
Presiding Judge, Justice S. A. Amobeda, who issued the ex parte order, stated that it was made in the interest of justice and to maintain peace in Kano.
The order reads:
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies, or any other person or authority from inviting, arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing the applicant, raiding, tampering with or visiting the applicant in order to arrest or infringe on his rights, or in any other way infringe or attempt to infringe the applicant’s 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, as well as the enjoyment of all rights and privileges accrued to him by virtue of being the Emir of Kano State, and evicting anything or anybody residing within the palace illegally pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.”
The case has been adjourned to June 4, 2024, for a hearing.
