The Supreme Court has scheduled April 19, 2027, to hear the appeal in the lingering Kano Emirate dispute involving Muhammadu Sanusi II and Aminu Bayero.
During proceedings on Monday, the apex court entertained preliminary submissions from parties in the case before adjourning for substantive hearing next year.
The legal battle stems from the 2020 removal of Sanusi by former Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who cited alleged disregard for lawful directives from the governor’s office.
In May 2024, the Kano State House of Assembly passed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill, which Governor Abba Yusuf signed into law. The legislation scrapped the 2019 emirate structure that had divided Kano into five jurisdictions.
Following the repeal, Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano by kingmakers and the state government.
However, the matter moved to court, with conflicting rulings from the Federal High Court and later the Court of Appeal over jurisdiction and the legality of the state government’s actions.
In January 2025, the Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction, ruling that the dispute was a chieftaincy matter rather than a fundamental rights case.
It subsequently ordered that the matter be transferred to the Kano State High Court.
The Supreme Court’s decision next year is expected to be decisive in resolving one of northern Nigeria’s most closely watched traditional institution disputes.
