The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday overturned previous actions relating to the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano, setting aside earlier rulings on the matter.
The appellate court acknowledged the transmission of the case record to the Supreme Court and directed all involved parties to exercise caution pending the hearing of their appeals at the apex court. In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill, accepted the withdrawal of an application filed by the Kano State Government following the appeal’s record submission to the Supreme Court.
During the resumed hearing on the enforcement of prior orders, Ibrahim Wangida, the Kano State Government’s legal representative, informed the court of an appeal notice filed in response to the stay of execution issued on March 14, 2025.
Wangida confirmed that all necessary legal procedures had been followed, including the transmission of the appeal record to the Supreme Court. He argued that, according to legal precedents, the transmission of the appeal automatically stayed any further action on the Court of Appeal’s ruling from March 14, 2025.
On that date, Justice Abang had issued an order to stay the execution of a previous judgment, which had validated the reinstatement of Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano. The judge also directed that all parties involved maintain the status quo ante bellum, reverting to the situation that existed before the trial court’s ruling on June 13, 2024, in Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024.
Dissatisfied with Justice Abang’s ruling, Wangida argued that the March 14 decision had misinterpreted constitutional provisions. He reiterated that the matter had already been appealed to the Supreme Court.
In response, Abdul Fagge (SAN), counsel for the appellant, did not object to the notice of appeal, acknowledging that the respondent had acted within the bounds of the law.
The reinstatement of Sanusi II as Emir of Kano followed the passage of the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which also led to the removal of Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Emir, along with four other first-class emirs appointed by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Bayero has since returned to Kano, residing under heavy security at the Nassarawa mini palace while continuing to legally challenge his removal.
