Photo: Muhammad Sanusi II
Mohamed Garba
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has halted the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano. This decision was made on Friday, March 14, 2025, by a three-member panel of justices led by Justice Okon Abang.
The court’s ruling effectively puts on hold the January 10 judgment that had vacated the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment by a Kano State High Court. The appellate court had deemed the nullification as lacking jurisdiction.
Justice Abang emphasized that the law is settled and that the court must exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice. He also noted that the subject matter before the court needs to be preserved, given Sanusi II’s five-year tenure as emir before his removal.
The judgment, which was delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment was done without the required jurisdiction and ordered the transfer of the suit to the Kano State High Court.
However, ruling on the fresh applications with numbers CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, the appellate court agreed that the applications seeking to halt the enforcement of the earlier judgment pending the appeal before the Supreme Court were competent and meritorious.
The appeal court’s decision is the latest development in the ongoing legal battle over the Kano Emirate tussle. The case has been transferred to the Supreme Court, and the appellate court’s ruling ensures that the status quo is maintained until the apex court delivers its final verdict.