In a significant development, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has directed all parties involved in the Kano Emirship dispute to hold off on any further action as the case is set to be heard by the Supreme Court.
The appellate court also put a stay on previous decisions regarding the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
Delivering a unanimous decision, the three-judge panel, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, dismissed the Kano State Government’s application to move forward with the case until the Supreme Court has reviewed the matter.
This move comes after the government reinstated Sanusi in line with the controversial Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which also annulled the appointment of Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Emir.
Earlier, on March 14, 2025, Justice Okon Abang had issued a stay of execution on the Appeal Court’s ruling, temporarily preserving the situation as it stood before a June 2024 court decision.
However, the ruling was met with criticism from the respondents, who accused the court of misinterpreting constitutional provisions, as an appeal had already been filed at the Supreme Court.
In court, Abdul Fagge (SAN), counsel for the appellant, expressed no opposition to the notice, while Kano State’s legal representative, Ibrahim Wangida, informed the court that the necessary legal steps, including the transmission of the case record to the Supreme Court, had been completed. Based on judicial precedents, this transmission effectively stays any actions related to the Appeal Court’s March ruling.
The court has now called for all parties to exercise caution and await the Supreme Court’s hearing, setting the stage for a final resolution of the long-running Kano Emirship saga.
