Court annuls reinstatement of Sanusi as Emir of Kano. The judge noted that the respondents decided to act according to their whims and caprices, a situation which he said landed them in a serious mess.
By Emma Ogbuehi
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has nullified the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
The court, which delivered a verdict on Thursday, also nullified all the actions taken after the controversial reinstatement.
The presiding judge, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman, said, “I hereby order that every step taking by the Government is hereby nullified and becomes null and invalid and that this does not affect the validity of the repealed Emirates Law but actions taken by the Governor, which includes the assenting to the Law and the reappointment (of Sanusi).
“I have listened to the audio of the governor both in Hausa and English after assenting to the Law, and I am convinced that the respondents are aware of the order of maintaining status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motions on notice in the court.
“Having been satisfied that the respondents are aware of the court order, the court in exercise of its powers set aside an action because it is in violation of the court’s order, I think it is a very serious matter for anyone to flout the orders of the court and go scot free with it.”
He said the catastrophic situation could have been averted if the respondents followed due processes by complying with the court order, which would still have allowed them to carry out their assignments.
He noted that the respondents however decided to act according to their whims and caprices, a situation which he said landed them in a serious mess.
The Court had also granted the respondents application for stay of proceedings pending hearing and determination of the case at the Court of Appeal and transferred the case to Federal High Court 3.