The Kano State government has dismissed reports suggesting that the Court of Appeal in Abuja nullified the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano. Government officials clarified that the recent court ruling did not reverse Sanusi’s reinstatement but merely placed a temporary hold on its implementation until the Supreme Court delivers its final judgment on the matter.
Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, the Kano State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, addressed the issue in a press briefing. He reaffirmed that the Court of Appeal had previously upheld the state government’s authority to reinstate Sanusi in a judgment delivered on January 10, 2025. He stressed that the ruling in question did not overturn that judgment. Instead, it only paused the execution of the reinstatement until the Supreme Court reaches a final decision.
Dederi explained that the legal principle at play ensures that only the Supreme Court has the power to reverse a decision made by the Court of Appeal. Therefore, the judgment affirming Sanusi’s reinstatement remains valid and has not been nullified. The latest ruling, he emphasized, should not be misinterpreted as a revocation of the state government’s decision but rather as a procedural step while the case moves forward to the Supreme Court.
Muhammadu Sanusi II, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was initially appointed as Emir of Kano in 2014. However, his tenure was abruptly cut short in March 2020 when the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje deposed him. Sanusi’s removal was widely perceived as politically motivated due to his outspoken views on governance and economic matters, which often put him at odds with political authorities.
His reinstatement in 2024 under the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reignited discussions surrounding the power dynamics between traditional institutions and the state government. The decision to restore him to the throne faced legal challenges, with a Federal High Court initially ruling against the reinstatement. However, in a judgment delivered on January 10, 2025, the Court of Appeal overturned that ruling, stating that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to interfere in the matter.
Despite the Court of Appeal’s ruling in favor of Sanusi’s reinstatement, the case was further contested, leading to the latest development where the court placed a temporary hold on the execution of its decision. This means that while Sanusi’s reinstatement remains legally valid, its enforcement is paused until the Supreme Court delivers a final verdict.
Legal and political analysts have noted that the ongoing case highlights the longstanding tensions between traditional institutions and political authorities in Nigeria. Kano’s emirate system has historically been at the center of governance struggles in the state, with successive governments using the institution to assert influence or settle political scores.
Observers argue that the Supreme Court’s ruling will not only determine Sanusi’s fate but also set a precedent for the authority of state governments over traditional institutions. Many believe that the case could reshape how political leaders engage with and manage traditional rulership structures across Nigeria.
As the legal proceedings continue, the matter remains a focal point of public discourse, particularly in Kano, where the emirate is deeply embedded in the cultural and political fabric of the state. Whether Sanusi ultimately retains his position will depend on how the Supreme Court interprets the legal framework governing traditional leadership and state authority.