A group of lawyers from Northern Nigeria has given Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf a 48-hour ultimatum to rescind the reinstatement of Emir Muhammad Sanusi II.
Identifying themselves as the Northern Lawyers’ Forum, the group stated at a Tuesday briefing in Abuja that Sanusi’s reinstatement is “unconstitutional” and “contrary to the traditions and customs of the Kano Emirate.”
The forum’s Director General, Barr Umar Sadiq Abubakar, argued that Sanusi’s initial removal adhered to the laws and traditions of the Emirate, and his reinstatement would “create chaos and undermine the rule of law” in the state.
Abubakar accused Governor Yusuf of undermining the judiciary by willfully disobeying a Federal High Court ruling that restrained him from reinstating Sanusi. He added that Yusuf’s injunction from the Kano State High Court, purportedly vacating the subsisting order, is a clear affront to the Federal High Court’s authority and sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the hierarchy of the country’s courts.
The group warned that if the governor fails to retrace his steps, they would be forced to take “all necessary legal steps” to protect the judiciary and the interests of the people of Kano State.
The statement partly reads: “It has become pertinent to again address you on the Executive rascality and gross disregard of the judiciary by the executive governor of Kano state, H.E Abba K. Yusuf.
“You will recall that prior to the reinstatement of deposed Muhammad Sanusi ii as Emir of Kano, a Federal High Court granted an order restraining the Governor of Kano state and every other party concerned from reinstating Mohammed Sanusi ii as Emir of Kano, but the executive governor of the state, H.E Abba k. Yusuf, in breach of the court order went ahead to reinstate Mohammed Sanusi ii as Emir of Kano state.
“We know that the judiciary is conservative and therefore look up to the bar to speak for it. As an organization of young lawyers who are irrevocably dedicated to an independent and free judiciary whose injunctions, judgements and orders must be enforced and obeyed, we are perturbed that a sitting governor who swore to protect our laws and constitution will flagrantly disregard a valid court order and engage in illegal actions that are capable of desecrating the hallowed temple of justice.
“We will not allow this to happen unchallenged. The age-long principle of constitutionalism is very clear that no man is above the law. The governor of Kano state, irrespective of how highly placed, is not an exception.”
