Kano State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Haruna Isa Dederi, has addressed confusion surrounding the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, affirming that the decision does not invalidate the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
Dederi clarified that the landmark verdict issued on January 10, 2025, which upheld the Kano State government’s authority to reappoint Sanusi, stands firm and cannot be overturned by the Court of Appeal. He stated, “It is impossible for the Court of Appeal to set aside or quash its own decision on the same matter.”
The Attorney General made these remarks in response to the Friday ruling of the Appellate Court regarding an application for a stay of execution filed by Alh. Aminu Baba Dan Agundi, a kingmaker loyal to the 15th Emir of Kano, Alh. Aminu Ado Bayero. Dan Agundi sought a stay pending the Supreme Court’s decision on the appeal.
According to Dederi, the matter is now “functus officio,” meaning it is beyond further action by the Court of Appeal. He emphasized that only the Supreme Court holds the authority to alter or annul the Appeal Court’s judgment. “The Appeal Court today, after hearing their application for a stay of execution, ruled that the status quo should be maintained until after the Supreme Court’s judgment,” Dederi explained. He further clarified that the judgment from January 10, 2025, which reaffirmed Sanusi’s reinstatement, is still valid and in effect.
The legal battle began when a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Mohammad Mustapha, set aside the Federal High Court’s judgment by Justice A. Liman. The lower court had previously nullified the Kano State government’s actions, including the appointment of Sanusi, under the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law of 2024. Dissatisfied with the verdict, Dan Agundi has taken the matter to the Supreme Court, filing a motion to stay the execution of the Appeal Court’s judgment until the highest court rules.
Dederi stressed that the Court of Appeal’s decision from January remains intact and cannot be reversed by the same court, reiterating that only the Supreme Court has the jurisdiction to intervene in this matter.
