The Kano Emirship tussle which started in May last year, has assumed a new dimension. At the heart of the dispute lies the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024. The Kano State House of Assembly enacted it on May 23, 2024. The law reversed several key actions taken by the preceding administration. That included the creation of five new Emirates and the removal of Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir of Kano. It reinstated Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.
However, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, an aggrieved kingmaker, kicked. He filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Kano. Justice Abubakar Liman, presided over the matter. He issued an order on May 23, 2024, directing all parties to maintain the status quo. Despite this, the Kano State Government proceeded with actions under the new law. That prompted Justice Liman to nullify those steps on June 20, 2024.
Court of Appeal’s decision in the Kano Emirship tussle
In a judgment delivered on Friday, the Court of Appeal in Kano, sitting in Abuja, overturned Justice Liman’s decision. The three-member panel ruled that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter in the first place. The appellate court noted that the fundamental rights suit filed by Agundi did not fall within the scope of such claims.
The Court of Appeal’s decision followed an appeal filed by the Kano State House of Assembly and its Speaker. It was marked CA/KN/140/2024. The judgment reaffirmed the validity of actions taken by the Kano State Government under the 2024 law. Such decisions included Sanusi’s reinstatement as Emir. That in effect means the Appeal Court has reinstated Sanusi in the Kano Emirship tussle.
Some law experts like Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a prominent rights advocate, have praised the judgment. Odinaka said the Court of Appeal’s decision aligned with established legal principles. He criticized Justice Liman’s earlier ruling, describing it as a judicial overreach.
Odinkalu argues that the Supreme Court precedent in Tukur v. Governor of Gongola State should have guided Justice Liman. According to him, Liman’s decision to distinguish the Kano Emirate case from the Supreme Court’s ruling undermined judicial consistency.
“The Court of Appeal confirmed that Liman had no jurisdiction in this matter. His actions created unnecessary controversy and damaged the judiciary’s reputation,” Odinkalu noted in a series of tweets.
Social media reactions
The judgment has sparked widespread discussion on social media, particularly from Northerners. Many users expressed satisfaction with the reinstatement of Sanusi as Emir. They argue that justice has been done in the matter.
One user tweeted, “Sanusi’s reinstatement is a victory for justice and tradition. The Court of Appeal’s ruling shows that the rule of law prevails.”
Another user named “@Sadona” commented, “This judgment restores the dignity of the Emirate. Political interference in traditional institutions must stop.”
However, some expressed skepticism about the political undertones of the case. A tweet read, “The Emirship tussle isn’t just about tradition. It’s a power struggle that reflects the larger political dynamics in Kano.”
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