Nigerian police say security forces will enforce a court order blocking the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano amid protests. Legal battle over deposed monarch's status risks inflaming tensions in key northern region.
Nigerian police authorities said security forces will comply with a court ruling blocking the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the emir of Kano, vowing to enforce the order even as supporters of the deposed monarch protested the decision.
In a statement Sunday, police spokeswoman Olumuyiwa Adejobi emphasized security agencies' "commitment to obey all court orders and the rule of law" after a federal appeals court suspended a March judgment that had cleared Sanusi's return as emir, a key traditional ruler position in Nigeria's Muslim north. "The Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies will exercise caution in enforcing the court order pending the determination of the suit," Adejobi said. "We will not allow a breakdown of law and order" related to the divisive case.
Sanusi, a former central bank governor cultivating an image as a reformist voice, was abruptly removed as emir in 2020 after clashing with Kano's ruling authorities. His supporters allege the ouster was politically motivated retaliation against his outspoken views.
The legal battle has stirred tensions in the cultural and political hub of Kano. Protests erupted Saturday after the appeals court suspended Sanusi's reinstatement order. By vowing compliance, police signaled awareness of how combustible the conflict risks becoming if escalated into street violence.
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