The Court of Appeal in Abuja has put a hold on the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano, pending a Supreme Court ruling.
A three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Okon Abang, on Friday, unanimously halted the implementation of the January 10 judgment that overturned the nullification of Sanusi’s appointment.
The ruling had been issued by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, who declared that the Kano State High Court, and not the Federal High Court, had jurisdiction over the chieftaincy dispute.
In fresh applications, CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, the appellate court found merit in the argument to halt enforcement of the reinstatement order until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict.
Justice Abang emphasised that the court must act judiciously to protect the rights of the parties involved.
He noted that the case needed preservation, as Sanusi had served as emir for five years before his removal in 2020.
The controversy stems from a June 20, 2024, ruling by the Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice Abubakar Liman.
That ruling nullified the Kano State Government’s Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which reinstated Sanusi II as the 16th Emir.
The court also ordered all parties to maintain the status quo during the reign of Emir Ado Bayero.
However, the appellate court has now ruled that the matter should have been heard by the Kano State High Court or the FCT High Court, not the Federal High Court.
It ordered the transfer of the pending suit and imposed a cost of N500,000 against the applicant, Aminu Baba-Dan’Agundi, in favour of the Kano State House of Assembly.
However, despite differing opinions among justices, the Court of Appeal ultimately struck out Baba-Dan’Agundi’s case at the Federal High Court.