The Appeal Court has temporarily halted its ruling reinstating Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano, pending a Supreme Court appeal. The decision extends the legal battle over the Kano Emirate, following challenges to the state government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirate Council Law, which previously led to Sanusi’s removal.
The legal battle over the Kano Emirate has taken another turn as the Court of Appeal has put a temporary halt to its own ruling reinstating Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano. The decision comes after an appeal was filed at the Supreme Court, challenging the lower court’s earlier verdict.
The controversy began in 2020 when the Kano State Government, under then-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, dethroned Sanusi and split the emirate into five jurisdictions. However, in May 2024, the new administration, led by Governor Abba Yusuf, repealed the law that had led to Sanusi’s removal, paving the way for his reinstatement.
This move sparked legal challenges from stakeholders within the Kano Emirate, who sought to prevent the enforcement of the reinstatement law. A Federal High Court initially ruled in favor of the challengers, but the Court of Appeal later overturned that ruling. Now, in a fresh twist, the appellate court has suspended the enforcement of its decision, pending a final ruling from the Supreme Court.
With this latest development, Sanusi’s position remains uncertain as the Supreme Court prepares to weigh in on the matter. The case underscores the deep political and traditional complexities surrounding Kano’s royal institution, leaving the fate of the emirate’s leadership hanging in the balance.
