The Court of Appeal in Abuja, instructed all parties involved in the ongoing Kano Emirship dispute to exercise caution while awaiting the hearing of their appeals at the Supreme Court.
In a unanimous ruling delivered by a three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, the court also stayed actions previously taken against the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.
The panel upheld the withdrawal of an application filed by the Kano State Government after the record of appeal was transmitted to the Supreme Court.
The Kano State Government had reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir under the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.
This same law also validated the removal of Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Emir, along with the displacement of four other first-class emirs appointed by the former governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
In a separate ruling on Friday, March 14, 2025, Justice Okon Abang had ordered a stay of execution on the Appeal Court’s previous decision that validated Sanusi’s reinstatement.
Justice Abang also directed all parties to maintain the status quo, preserving the situation as it was before the trial court’s decision on June 13, 2024.
The respondents, dissatisfied with Justice Abang’s ruling, criticized it as a misinterpretation of constitutional provisions, pointing out that an appeal had already been filed with the Supreme Court.
During the resumed hearing on the enforcement of its earlier orders, Abdul Fagge (SAN), counsel for the appellant, did not oppose the application for a stay of execution.
He stated that the respondents were acting within the constitutional framework.
Ibrahim Wangida, counsel for the Kano State Government, informed the court that a notice of appeal had been filed against Justice Abang’s stay of execution order.
Wangida further confirmed that all necessary legal steps had been completed, including the transmission of the appeal records to the Supreme Court.
As per judicial precedent, the transmission of the appeal records effectively operates as a stay on any actions regarding the Appeal Court’s ruling.
In light of this, the Court of Appeal instructed all parties to refrain from further actions until the Supreme Court hears the appeal.
