The Court of Appeal in Abuja has suspended the execution of its earlier judgment reinstating former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as the 16th Emir of Kano.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Okon Abang, the appellate court ruled on Friday to halt the implementation of its verdict pending the determination of an appeal before the Supreme Court.
The court found merit in applications CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, which were brought forward regarding the ongoing Kano Emirate dispute. Specifically, the panel issued an injunction restraining the Kano State House of Assembly, the Kano State Government, and other involved parties from enforcing its judgment in Appeal No. CA/KN/126/2024.
The ruling directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum (the state of affairs before the disputed judgment) until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict. Additionally, the court mandated the applicant to submit an undertaking within 48 hours to indemnify the respondents in case the orders were deemed unjustified.
This latest development follows the appellate court’s January 10 ruling, which had overturned a June 20, 2024, decision by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court. That ruling had invalidated the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, a legal provision that enabled Sanusi’s reappointment.
The Court of Appeal had determined that Justice Liman lacked jurisdiction to annul the Kano State Government’s actions under the Emirates Council Law. It further ruled that the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by kingmaker Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, which had led to the Federal High Court’s earlier decision, was incompetent.
With this suspension, the legal battle over the Kano Emirate continues, as all eyes now turn to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter.
