Kano Gov Yusuf Threatens Judge Who Halted Sanusi’s Reinstatement

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has threatened to report a U.S.-based judge to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) over a controversial court order. The order, issued by Justice Mohammed Liman, halted the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the abolition of four emirates.

Governor Yusuf expressed his outrage following the judge’s decision, which he claimed was an abuse of judicial power. “The person that issued the court order was in America but he is ordering us to stop what we are doing. This issue of abuse I must present before the Governor’s Forum so that we can tackle it accordingly,” Yusuf declared at the Kano State Government House.

Justice Liman’s ex parte order, delivered from the United States, has stirred significant controversy. The order not only blocked Sanusi’s return but also prevented the dissolution of the Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano emirates, a move seen as politically charged in the state’s turbulent traditional leadership scene.

Despite the court’s directive, Governor Yusuf proceeded with the reinstatement, presenting the appointment letter to Sanusi II at a ceremony in Africa House. He emphasized the state’s commitment to due process and called for adherence to the rule of law from all parties.

Sanusi II, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, was turbaned as the Emir of Kano for a second time. In his speech, Yusuf urged the reinstated emir to leverage his position to foster unity within the emirate and across the state.

The legal and political drama continues to unfold, with Governor Yusuf poised to take the matter to the NGF, potentially escalating the conflict to a national level. As tensions rise, all eyes are on Kano, awaiting the next developments in this high-stakes saga.