The Court of Appeal in Abuja has restrained the enforcement of its January 10 judgment that upheld the Kano State Government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirate Council Law, pending the determination of an appeal at the Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeal, which sat in Abuja, had set aside the June 20 order by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, nullifying the actions taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, including the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.
The Court held that the order nullifying the steps taken by the Kano State Government under the 2024 Emirates Council Law was made by Justice Liman without jurisdiction.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the Kano State Government appealed to the Supreme Court and subsequently filed an injunction at the Court of Appeal urging the court to stay execution of the judgement pending determination of the appeal at the apex court.
The court restrained the respondents from enforcing the January 10 judgment that nullified the Kano State Government’s dissolution of the emirates. It also granted an order, maintaining the status quo until the Supreme Court renders a final decision.
Tn setting aside the Federal High Court’s decision, the court ruled that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over chieftaincy matters, which fall within the exclusive domain of the state high courts.
