Sanusi Stays As Emir, Kano Government Reacts To Court Ruling

Sanusi stays as Emir, Kano Government reacts to court ruling. Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, has clarified that the recent ruling by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, does not invalidate the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

He made the clarification while speaking to journalists on Friday, Dederi said that the Court of Appeal had already affirmed the Kano State Government’s authority to reinstate Sanusi in a landmark ruling on January 10, 2025.

He stated that it is impossible for the same court to overturn its own decision, adding that only the Supreme Court has the power to do so.

His statement came in response to Friday’s ruling by the Court of Appeal on an application for a stay of execution filed by Alhaji Aminu Baba Dan Agundi, a kingmaker loyal to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero. The appeal seeks to suspend the implementation of the ruling until the Supreme Court delivers its judgment.

Dederi explained that the Court of Appeal’s ruling simply maintains the current status quo until the Supreme Court decides on the matter. He stressed that the January 10 judgment remains valid and has not been quashed.

“The Appeal Court today, after hearing their application for a stay of execution, ruled that the status quo should rather be maintained as it is now, until after the judgment of the Supreme Court. The have filed an appeal at the Supreme Court.

“It doesn’t mean that the judgment delivered on January 10, 2025, has been quashed. That judgment is still standing and still in place and subsisting.

The Court of Appeal cannot reverse its own decision. It is not possible. It is only a supreme Court that has the power to set aside the judgment given by a lower court,” Dederi stated.

Sanusi II was originally dethroned as Emir of Kano on March 9, 2020, by the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. His removal was attributed to alleged insubordination and conflicts with the state government.

Following his dethronement, he was banished to Nasarawa State. However, in May 2024, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf repealed the Kano State Emirate Council Law 2019, which had split the Kano Emirate into five smaller emirates. This paved the way for Sanusi’s reinstatement as the sole Emir of Kano, reversing the previous administration’s decision.

Sanusi Stays As Emir

It will be recalled that on January 10, 2025, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, led by Justice Mohammad Mustapha, nullified an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court in Kano, which had invalidated the Kano State Government’s actions under the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024. This ruling upheld Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s reappointment as Emir.

However, Dan Agundi challenged the verdict at the Supreme Court and also sought a stay of execution to delay its enforcement until the apex court delivers its final ruling.

Bauchi NSCDC Arrests 5 Over Pipeline Vandalism, Motorcycle Theft

Bauchi NSCDC arrests 5 over pipeline vandalism, motorcycle theft. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says it has apprehended five suspects for pipeline vandalism and other offences in Bauchi State.

The commandant, Oloyede Oyerinde, said this while parading the suspects on Saturday in Bauchi.

He said operatives of the corps apprehended the suspects for criminal misappropriation, rape and theft in different locations across the state.

Mr Oyerinde said the operatives nabbed two suspects (names withheld) for motorcycle theft at a lodge in Magama Gumau, Toro Local Government Area of the state.

He said the Corps arrested one suspect (name withheld) on March 7, for alleged pipeline vandalism and illegal extraction of kerosene in Alkaleri.

The commandant said that on Feb. 26, operatives of the Corps in Alkaleri detained a 38-year-old man (name withheld), for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl.

NSCDC

He said the Corps on March 4, detained a 22-year-old man for siphoning diesel from a 150KVA generator meant for powering street lights in Bauchi metropolis.

Mr Oyerinde said the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.

While reiterating commitment to protect critical infrastructure, Mr Oyerinde urged residents to cooperate with security agencies to protect lives and property.

Nigerian Troops Destroy 56 Illegal Refining Sites in One Week

Troops of Operation Delta Safe have intensified efforts against crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, dismantling 56 illegal refining sites within a week.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday while presenting the weekly update on military operations.

During the operation, troops recovered 675,266 litres of stolen crude oil, 312,593 litres of illegally refined AGO, and 4,500 litres of DPK. They also destroyed 51 crude oil cooking ovens, 49 dugout pits, 43 boats, 28 storage tanks, and 131 drums.

Additionally, the military seized four pumping machines, four tricycles, three motorcycles, seven mobile phones, and eight vehicles. A total of 31 suspected oil thieves and criminals were arrested, while 103 assorted arms and ammunition, along with three extra magazines, were recovered.

Between March 5 and 10, troops apprehended 11 suspected criminals and rescued four kidnapped victims in parts of Cross River, Rivers, and Delta states.

Troops Destroy 56 Illegal Refining Sites

The air component also carried out patrols and reconnaissance missions over areas including Imo River, Owaza, Ohaji/Egbema, and Abacheke, as well as Nembe, Okpokiri, Tomkiri, Brass, and Belema. These operations contributed to the destruction of illegal refining sites and the seizure of various equipment.