A Federal High Court in Kano has reversed the dethronement of Emir Aminu Ado-Bayero and four other emirs of Bichi, Rano, Karaye, and Gaya Emirates.
On Thursday, Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman ruled against the Kano State Government’s repeal of the Kano Emirates Council Law (2019), which had split the Kano Emirate into five separate emirates with First Class Emirs.
In his ruling, Justice Liman disregarded the repeal of the Kano Emirate Law (2019) and ordered all parties to maintain the status quo. “The Court has set aside all steps taken by the Kano State Government to repeal the Kano Emirates Council Law (2019),” said Justice Liman.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had earlier signed the new Kano Emirate Law (2024), which led to the deposition of Emir Aminu Ado-Bayero and the four other emirs.
The new law reinstated the former Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II, as the 16th Emir of Kano, reverting Kano to its traditional single-emirate system.
The repeal of the 2019 law was challenged in court by Aminu Babba Danagundi, a prominent king-maker in the Kano Emirate, through his lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN). Danagundi’s challenge led to the court’s decision to reverse the dethronements and nullify the actions taken under the new law.
The ruling means that Emir Aminu Ado-Bayero and the other four emirs will retain their positions, and the structure of the Kano Emirate, as established in 2019, remains intact.
