A Federal High Court in Kano has ordered the Kano State Government to halt enforcement of the Kano State Emirate Council Repeal Law.

 

Justice Mohammed Liman issued the order following an application by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate.

 

Court documents concerning the case have since circulated widely.

 

On Thursday, the Kano State House of Assembly dissolved the four newly created emirate councils, as reported by Timeless Update.

 

The House’s decision followed deliberations during a plenary session.

 

Governor Abba Yusuf reappointed Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano on Thursday, four years after his removal by former Governor Umar Ganduje.

 

In addition, the governor deposed five emirs appointed by Ganduje and gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to vacate their official residences and palaces, directing them to hand over affairs to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

 

In the latest lawsuit regarding the Emir’s seat, the respondents in the fundamental rights case are the Kano State Government, the House of Assembly, the Speaker, the Attorney-General, the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the State Security Service.

 

The court ordered that all court processes be served on the IGP in Abuja.

 

The judge ruled, “Parties are hereby ordered to maintain status quo ante the passage and assent of the bill into law pending the hearing of the fundamental rights application.

 

“In view of the constitutional and jurisdictional issues apparent on the face of the application, parties shall address the court on same at the hearing of the fundamental rights application on the 3rd of June, 2024.

 

“To maintain the peace and security of the state, an interim injunction is granted restraining the fifth to eighth respondents (CP, IGP, NSCDC, and DSS) from enforcing, executing, implementing, and operationalizing the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law.

 

“That this case is adjourned to the 3rd of June, 2024, for the hearing of the fundamental rights application.”

 

“Status quo ante” refers to the previously existing state of affairs.

 

The repealed law, known as the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, had created the Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi Emirates in addition to Kano.

 

The law’s repeal means that the newly created emirates have been dissolved, consolidating the Kano Emirate once again under a single ruler.