Appeal Court Halts Enforcement of Judgment on Sanusi’s Reinstatement as Kano Emir.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has put a temporary hold on the enforcement of its earlier judgment that quashed a Federal High Court ruling regarding the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.
This latest ruling, delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Okon Abang, suspends any further actions on the matter pending a final decision from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Background: The Kano Emirate Crisis
The legal battle over the Kano Emirate began following the passage of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which dissolved four new emirate councils and paved the way for Sanusi’s return as Emir.
However, Alhaji Aminu Babba-Dan’agundi, a senior Kano kingmaker known as Sarkin Dawaki Babba, challenged the move in court.
In June 2024, a Federal High Court in Kano nullified all steps taken to reappoint Sanusi as Emir, ruling in favor of Babba-Dan’agundi.
The case then proceeded to the Court of Appeal, where the Kano State House of Assembly sought to overturn the High Court’s ruling.
Appeal Court’s Initial Decision and Supreme Court Intervention
In January 2025, the Appeal Court ruled in favor of the Kano State House of Assembly, overturning the High Court’s decision and stating that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Unhappy with the outcome, Babba-Dan’agundi appealed to the Supreme Court and requested an injunction to stop the enforcement of the Appeal Court ruling until the Supreme Court makes a final judgment.
Appeal Court’s Latest Ruling: Status Quo Maintained
On Friday, March 14, 2025, Justice Okon Abang granted an injunction preventing the enforcement of the Appeal Court’s decision.
The ruling means that:
- All actions related to Sanusi’s reinstatement are on hold until the Supreme Court delivers its final verdict.
- The Kano State Government and Kano State House of Assembly cannot proceed with implementing the reinstatement.
- The status quo ante bellum (the pre-existing condition before the legal battle) must be maintained.
Judge’s Justification for Granting the Injunction
Justice Abang ruled that Babba-Dan’agundi had presented a valid and arguable appeal before the Supreme Court.
He stated:
“An injunction is hereby granted restraining the respondents (Kano State House of Assembly, Kano State Government, etc.), either by themselves, their agents, privies, servants, or personal representatives, from enforcing the judgment of this Court in Appeal No. CA/KN/126/2024 – KANO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY & ANOR VS ALHAJI AMINU BABBA-DAN’AGUNDI & OTHERS, delivered on 10/1/2025, pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s appeal filed on 24/1/2025 before the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
He further directed that the applicant must file an undertaking within 48 hours to indemnify the respondents in damages if the order was found to be unwarranted.
Political and Legal Implications
This ruling is a setback for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Kano State Government, which had moved swiftly to dethrone the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado-Bayero, and reinstate Sanusi in May 2024.
It also highlights the intensifying power struggle between political forces and traditional institutions in Kano State, which has witnessed repeated legal battles over its Emirate leadership in recent years.
With the Supreme Court now set to determine the final outcome, all eyes remain on the next phase of this high-stakes legal and political drama.
The Future of the Kano Emirate
The Kano Emirate crisis remains unresolved, with the Supreme Court set to make a final ruling on Sanusi’s fate.
For now, the Court of Appeal’s ruling means that Sanusi’s reinstatement remains uncertain, and the legal battle for the Kano Emirate is far from over.
