The Federal High Court sitting in Kano, Nigeria has ordered the eviction of Muhammadu Sanusi II from the palace. The Court, presided over by Justice S. A. Amobeda, mandated the police to ensure that all rights and privileges due to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, are accorded to him as the rightful Emir of Kano.
Justice Amobeda stated that the order was made “in the interest of justice and the maintenance of peace in Kano State.” The Court issued an interim injunction restraining the respondents, including the police, from infringing on Sanusi’s rights pending the determination of the originating motion. “An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents either by themselves, their agents, servants, privies or any other person or authority from inviting, arresting, detaining, threatening, intimidating, harassing the applicant, raiding, tampering with or visiting the applicant in order to arrest or infringe on his right or in any other way infringe or attempt to infringe the applicant’s rights pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion,” Justice Amobeda said.
The respondents in the case include the Attorney General of the Federation, the Attorney General of Kano State, the police commissioner, and the army, among others. The case has been adjourned to June 4 for a hearing.
However, a State High Court in Kano issued a conflicting order earlier on the same day. The State High Court, presided over by Justice A. Adamu Aliyu, restrained the police, State Security Service (SSS), and Nigerian military from evicting Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II from the palace. This case was filed by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II along with four Kano kingmakers: Madakin Kano Yusuf Nabahani, Makaman Kano Ibrahim Sarki Abdullahi, Sarkin Bai Mansur Adnan, and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta Bello Tuta.
Justice Aliyu granted an interim injunction preventing the security agencies from harassing, intimidating, arresting, or invading the personal or official residence of Sanusi and the kingmakers. “An order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the respondents either by themselves, their agents, privies, representatives, and asides from further harassing, intimidating, inviting, arresting and or invading the personal or official residence of the applicants (Gidan Rumfa), his servants and or any of the Kano Emirate kingmakers of doing such acts that would be capable of interfering with the applicants’ rights generally in relation to this suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” the judge held.
The judge also restrained the respondents from attempting to confiscate any symbols of authority associated with the Emirate. “That an order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the respondents from attempting to hijack, pick, commandeer, confiscate any of the twin spears of authority, the Royal Hat of Dabo, the Ostrich-feathered shoes, the knife and sword of the Emir of Kano as well as symbols of authority pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” Justice Aliyu said.
Justice Aliyu further ordered that the respondents are restrained “from interfering with the functions and duties of the 1st applicant (Sanusi) as the Emir of Kano pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated May 28, 2024.”
The State High Court adjourned the case to June 13 for a hearing.
