In Kano, Nigeria, the state government clarified the Court of Appeal’s judgment, reinstating former Emir Sanusi II amidst ongoing controversies. Attorney General Haruna Dederi emphasised the ruling’s validity, despite an appeal by kingmaker Aminu Dan’agundi to the Supreme Court. Tensions rise over the emirate’s political implications, urging public calm.
KANO, Nigeria — In a dramatic twist in the ongoing Kano Emirate tussle, the Kano State Government has issued a stern clarification on the Court of Appeal’s recent judgment regarding Sanusi’s reinstatement as Emir—a decision that has sent ripples through Nigeria’s traditional and political landscape.
Speaking at a press briefing at the NUJ Secretariat in Kano, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Haruna Dederi emphatically decried the “widespread misinterpretations and speculative reports” swirling in the media.
According to Dederi, the Court of Appeal’s judgment, delivered on 10 January 2025, unequivocally upheld the repeal of the Kano Emirate Council Law, 2019—a landmark decision that effectively paved the way for the reinstatement of former Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II. However, the ruling has not been left unchallenged.
The controversy deepens as Alhaji Aminu Dan’agundi, a prominent kingmaker with longstanding grievances, has lodged an appeal before the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Dederi was quick to clarify that, until the apex court delivers its final verdict, the Court of Appeal’s decision remains “valid and binding.”
In a measured yet defiant tone, he explained that the recent stay of execution—described as a “standard legal procedure”—is simply meant to preserve the status quo pending a comprehensive determination of the matter.
This legal drama is more than just courtroom theatre; it encapsulates the broader battle for control and influence over the revered Kano Emirate.
Once a symbol of stability and unity in the culturally diverse northern region, the emirate has increasingly become a battleground for political manoeuvring.
Critics argue that Sanusi’s reinstatement is emblematic of an administration eager to restore what it considers to be a more legitimate traditional order.
Others, however, see it as a politically motivated move designed to placate influential traditional elites while sidestepping pressing governance issues.
The Kano State Government, in its statement, urged the public to “remain calm, law-abiding, and avoid any form of provocation.”
This call for order is significant in light of recent heated exchanges and sporadic unrest that have marred public discourse on the emirship.
With tensions running high among various factions within the Kano traditional hierarchy, the government’s appeal for unity and patience is both timely and imperative.
In a display of measured pragmatism, the government has also tasked its legal team with a thorough review of the Court of Appeal proceedings.
“We are studying the outcome of the proceedings and will determine the next steps in line with the law,” the statement declared, hinting that further legal manoeuvring could be on the horizon.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General extended heartfelt appreciation to the resilient people of Kano for their “patience, understanding, and unwavering prayers for peace and progress”—a sentiment that resonates deeply in a state that has long been a crucible of tradition, modernity, and political contestation.
With the Supreme Court poised to deliver the final verdict, the nation watches with bated breath as the fate of one of Nigeria’s most storied traditional institutions hangs in the balance.
Will justice prevail and restore confidence in the legal process, or will further complications undermine the legitimacy of Sanusi’s reinstatement? Only time—and the apex court—will tell.
In the meantime, the unfolding legal saga in Kano remains a potent reminder that in Nigeria, tradition and modernity are forever intertwined in a delicate dance of power, law, and identity.
- Additional report from Suleiman Adamu
