The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Friday stopped the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido as the Emir of Kano.
A three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Okon Abang stopped the implementation of the January 10 judgment, which vacated the nullification of Sanusi’s appointment by the Federal High Court, Kano.
Justice Abubakar Liman, on June 20, 2024, nullified the steps/actions taken by the Kano State government pursuant to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.
These included the appointment of Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the Kano State government approached the Supreme Court and subsequently filed an injunction at the appeal court.
It urged the court to stay the execution of the judgment pending determination of the appeal at the apex court.
The appeal was brought against the Kano State Government, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies.
The appeal court in the January 10 ruling held that the order nullifying the steps taken by the Kano State government pursuant to the 2024 Emirates Council Law was made by Justice Liman without jurisdiction.
Following the judgement, the Sarkin Dawaki Baba, Alhaji Aminu Baba, through his application filed on February 6, sought an order restraining the respondents from enforcing the appellate court’s judgment while an appeal was pending at the Supreme Court.
Ruling on the injunction on Friday, the appellate court panel held that the application was meritorious and deserving of the court’s discretion in the interest of justice.
Justice Abang, who delivered the judgement, said: “The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice.”