In a significant development in the ongoing emirship tussle in Kano, a Federal High Court recently ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the human rights violation case brought against the state government by Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero. This case arises from the controversial removal of Bayero and the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano. The court not only affirmed its jurisdiction but also imposed a ₦10 million fine on the Kano government for violating Bayero’s rights.
The emirship battle intensified after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf signed the repealed Kano State Emirates Law, facilitating Sanusi’s return to the throne. Bayero, deposed along with four other emirs, has claimed that his dethronement was a breach of his fundamental human rights. The state government, on the other hand, argues that it acted within its constitutional powers to make and amend laws.
In an interview with Saturday Sun, Sanusi aimed a subtle dig at Bayero, expressing that those who benefited from the former system are understandably upset by the changes. Without directly naming Bayero, Sanusi suggested that the problem lies not in the recent changes but in the creation of new emirates four years ago by the previous administration under Governor Ganduje. Sanusi criticized Ganduje’s creation of new emirates, which he claimed had no historical precedent in Kano’s thousand-year history.
Sanusi emphasized the need to restore the original order and preserve Kano’s historical and cultural legacy, despite the discomfort it causes to those who enjoyed privileges under the previous system. He highlighted that the decision was made to protect the emirate’s long-standing history, not to target any individual or family. Sanusi called for unity among Kano’s citizens and the royal family to focus on the bigger picture and work towards preserving the emirate’s glory and tradition.