The dethroned Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, has departed Awe in Nasarawa State where he had been held against his will by security agents since his deposition.
On Friday, March 13, 2020, Kaduna State governor, Nasir El Rufai visited Sanusi in Awe and the two departed the central Nigerian state for the nation’s capital, Abuja.
Soon after, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim order the Nigerian police and the secret police, the State Security Services to free the disgraced monarch.
Justice Anwuli Chikere granted the order in line with the prayers on the exparte motion filed on behalf of the deposed Emir by his lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, a senior advocate of Nigeria.
The former Emir had on Thursday approached the court seeking an interim order of the court directing his immediate release from detention. He had earlier described his banishment as “archaic and unlawful”.
In the suit, the former Governor of the Central Bank prayed for an interim order releasing him “from the detention and or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating summons.”
The former Central Bank governor has sued the inspector general of Police, Mohammed Adamu and the director-general of the SSS, Yusuph Bichi for their roles in his confinement.
Both men first visited a mosque for prayers before departing the rural settlement in Nasarawa.
Sanusi Leaves Banishment As Chancellor Of Kaduna State University
Less than 24 hours after the appointed him into the board of Kaduna State Investment Promotion Authority, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has named former Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II as the chancellor of Kaduna State University.
“On behalf of the government and people of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai is delighted to appoint His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Chancellor of the Kaduna State University,” Elrufai’s spokesman Muyiwa Adekeye said in a statement. “In public life, His Highness has demonstrated a strong commitment to education.”
“The Kaduna State Government has no doubt that as Chancellor, His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi, would provide symbolic and substantive leadership in raising the profile of KASU as an emerging center of learning on the national and global level.”
Kano State Government on Monday, March 9, 2020, removed Sanusi as emir of the Kano emirate after six years on the throne.
Usman Alhaji, the secretary to the state government said the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor was removed for his “total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the governor and other lawful authorities.”
Kano State Government announced Aminu Ado Bayero as the new emir of Kano emirate.
While the news of Sanusi’s removal was greeted with mixed reactions from Nigerians, El-Rufai showed faith in the former CBN governor by appointing into the board of the Kaduna State Investment Promotion Authority less than 24 hours after his dethronement.
“Sanusi’s appointment comes at an exciting moment for KASU which is transiting to a multicampus structure with presence across the state,” El-Rufai said.
“Nasir El-Rufai welcomes with gratitude the consent of His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi to serve as Chancellor of KASU and as Vice-Chairman of the board of KADIPA.
“The Kaduna State Government is grateful that HH Muhammadu Sanusi II continues to support and assist the realization of the governance objectives of the Kaduna State Government.”
Sanusi will succeed as the pioneer Chancellor of KASU, His Highness, Tagwai Sambo, the chief of Moro’a, who was appointed to the role in 2005.
