Appeal Court Suspends Sanusi’s Reinstatement Amid Corruption Allegations
ABUJA – The Court of Appeal in Abuja has put a hold on its January 10, 2025 judgment that upheld the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano, pending the determination of an appeal at the Supreme Court.
The appellate court, in a unanimous ruling delivered on Friday, March 14, 2025, by a three-member panel led by Justice Okon Abang, granted an injunction suspending the execution of its earlier judgment. The decision came in response to two suits, CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, filed by the Kano State House of Assembly.
Sanusi’s Corruption Controversies
Sanusi’s reinstatement as Emir of Kano had drawn sharp criticism, with many questioning the morality of returning a man previously accused of financial misconduct and mismanagement of public funds.
During his tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2009 to 2014, Sanusi was suspended by former President Goodluck Jonathan over alleged financial recklessness. He was accused of unaccounted funds totaling $20 billion, which he claimed had been diverted from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). However, independent audits later suggested that his claims were inconsistent and politically motivated.
Similarly, as Emir of Kano, Sanusi was embroiled in financial scandals, including the embezzlement of Kano Emirate funds. In 2017, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission launched an investigation into his financial dealings, uncovering lavish spending of Emirate resources. Reports revealed that under his leadership, Kano Emirate Council funds were misused, including extravagant purchases such as:
A fleet of luxury cars, including Rolls Royce vehicles imported from Dubai
Lavish international trips at the expense of the Emirate treasury
The questionable withdrawal of over N3.4 billion from the Emirate accounts without proper records
His financial recklessness became a key reason for his eventual removal by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in 2020, citing “insubordination” and “misuse of royal privileges.”
Legal and Political Battle Over Reinstatement
Despite these past allegations, Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano in 2024 after Governor Abba Yusuf signed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, dissolving the five new emirates created under Ganduje and restoring the historic Kano Emirate. However, his return was challenged in court.
The Federal High Court in Kano initially nullified the repeal law, ruling that it was legally flawed. However, the Court of Appeal overturned that decision on January 10, 2025, reinstating Sanusi.
Dissatisfied with this ruling, the Kano State Government filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, seeking an injunction to suspend the judgment pending final determination.
Court of Appeal Grants Injunction
The House of Assembly, in its application filed on February 6, 2025, sought to prevent Sanusi’s reinstatement while the Supreme Court case was ongoing.
Justice Okon Abang, in granting the injunction, ruled that:
The trial court lacked jurisdiction over the case
The matter required a final decision from the Supreme Court
There was a need to maintain the status quo to prevent further complications
He emphasized that the balance of justice necessitated a pause in Sanusi’s return to the throne, pending a ruling by Nigeria’s highest court.
Kano Emirate in Legal Limbo
With this new ruling, the leadership of the Kano Emirate remains uncertain. While Sanusi’s supporters claim his return is justified, critics argue that bringing back a leader with a tainted financial record is a step backward for the Kano people.
The Supreme Court’s final verdict will ultimately determine whether Sanusi can reclaim the throne or if Kano will continue under the new emirates structure. Until then, the political and legal tensions surrounding the Kano Emirate remain unresolved.
Reference
Appeal Court Suspends Sanusi’s Reinstatement Amid Corruption Allegations