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Kano Emirate Tussle: Appeal Court halts Emir Sanusi’s reinstatement
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.
The Osun State Amotekun Corps has denied allegations of nepotism in its ongoing recruitment of 1,000 cadets, following claims by some dismissed recruits that they were removed in favor of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.
Some affected candidates, seen outside the NYSC camp venue in Osogbo, alleged they were removed due to their affiliation with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on behalf of the group, a dismissed cadet, Usman, claimed that they had been in camp since Sunday before being replaced by PDP members, some of whom, he alleged, were unfit for training.
However, Amotekun’s Board Chairman, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Wale Abass, dismissed the allegations as baseless. He explained that those removed from the training camp either failed to meet the required standards or did not follow the proper recruitment process.
“The 1,000 cadets invited for training went through a rigorous selection process. They submitted applications online, underwent document verification, and passed physical fitness tests before being invited to camp,” Abass stated.
He further revealed that some unqualified individuals managed to gain access to the camp, while some selected candidates failed to meet the reporting deadline. Those with health issues were also disqualified.
Abass reaffirmed that the Amotekun Corps remains committed to fairness and impartiality in its recruitment process. He described the allegations as an attempt to create confusion and undermine the security outfit’s credibility.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun State has raised concerns over the alleged recruitment of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the state’s Amotekun Corps, claiming it threatens the safety of opposition members.
In a statement issued on Friday, APM Chairman, Mr. Adewale Adebayo, criticized the recruitment process, alleging that non-PDP applicants were deliberately screened out. He warned that Amotekun, originally created to enhance security, was being turned into a political tool.
“We are disturbed by the protest by well-meaning Osun residents who applied but were deliberately excluded because they are not PDP members,” Adebayo stated.
He further alleged that over 1,000 PDP members had been recruited into the corps, describing it as an attempt to silence opposition voices. According to him, the recruitment exercise was merely a formality to cover up a pre-arranged selection process favoring ruling party members.
APM has called for the resignation of the Corps Commandant and Field Commandant of Amotekun, demanding an apology to the affected applicants and the people of the state. The party insisted that the security outfit must remain apolitical to maintain public trust.
Neither the Osun State Government nor the leadership of Amotekun has responded to the allegations as of the time of this report.
The immediate past Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, has praised the leadership style of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, stating that his efforts will strengthen the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2026 governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday, Owoeye emphasized that the APC is in a stronger position in Osun compared to 2022. He credited Oyetola’s contributions, including food distribution programs, medical outreaches, and federal government projects in the state, as pivotal to repositioning the party.
He also highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s developmental projects in Osun, such as the N12 billion Ilesa-Eti-Oni road, the newly established Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies in Iragbiji, and the Alternative High School for Girls in Osogbo, as factors boosting APC’s appeal among residents.
Owoeye further lauded Oyetola’s performance in the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, noting that his leadership had earned the ministry top rankings in the Ease of Doing Business assessment by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
Meanwhile, the former Speaker criticized Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration for what he described as political blackmail. He dismissed allegations against Oyetola regarding the alleged misappropriation of a $20 million World Bank health grant, calling the accusations baseless.
Owoeye accused the state government of jeopardizing future grants and donor-funded projects through premature accusations. He also recalled discrepancies in the state’s debt figures presented by Governor Adeleke and the Debt Management Office, questioning the credibility of the administration’s claims.
He urged the current government to prioritize governance over political distractions, stating that Osun State deserves better leadership.
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