Against Court Order, Sanusi Lamido Turbaned as 16th Emir of Kano

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has on Friday officially received his letter of appointment from Governor Abba Yusuf, reinstating him as the 16th Emir of Kano‍. The ceremony occurred at the Kano State Government House, where Sanusi was also turbaned to mark his return to the throne.

Governor Yusuf had announced Sanusi’s reinstatement on Thursday after signing the amended Kano State Emirate Council Law. This new law repealed the 2019 version that had divided the Kano Emirate into five jurisdictions and led to Sanusi’s removal as emir in 2020. The new legislation restored the emirate system to its original format and empowered the governor to reinstate Sanusi.

However, the reinstatement has faced legal challenges. Earlier Friday, a Federal High Court in Kano issued an order preventing the state government from enforcing the new law. Justice Mohammed Liman instructed the government to “suspend” and “not give effect to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law, 2024,” affecting all offices and institutions created under the 2019 law.

This legal action was initiated by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate, who filed an application leading to the court’s order.

The state assembly had passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024, dissolving the four new emirate councils created by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. This decision was made during a special plenary session amidst tight security.

Despite the legal injunction, however, the government proceeded with Sanusi’s reinstatement.

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