A group of lawyers from Northern Nigeria, known as the Northern Lawyers’ Forum, is demanding the reversal of Emir Muhammad Sanusi II’s reinstatement. They issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, calling the reinstatement “unconstitutional” and a violation of Kano Emirate traditions.
Barr Umar Sadiq Abubakar, Director General of the Forum, argued that Sanusi’s initial removal followed established laws and traditions. He further accused Governor Yusuf of disrespecting the judiciary by defying a Federal High Court order that restrained him from reinstating Sanusi. He claimed that the Kano State High Court injunction used to justify the reinstatement was an affront to the Federal High Court’s authority and a dangerous legal precedent.
“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.”
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