Heavily armed security operatives, on Friday morning, blocked the Emir’s Palace in Kano, preventing Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II from attending a royal ceremony in Bichi Local Government Area of Kano State.
READ ALSO: Court reserves judgment in Kano emirship dispute appeals
According to reports, the Emir was scheduled to present a staff of office to a newly appointed District Head of Bichi. However, a source within the Kano Emirate revealed that the Emir was instructed to remain indoors as security personnel barricaded the palace entrance with armoured personnel carrier (APC) vehicles.
“The Emir has been on the phone and is trying to find out what is going on,” the source said. It was also reported that Emir Sanusi II reached out to prominent figures, including the Sultan of Sokoto and former military leader Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, in an effort to address the situation.
A separate source from the Kano State Government claimed that a delegation sent by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the palace was also blocked by the security operatives. Meanwhile, the venue of the event in Bichi was similarly blocked.
The incident is believed to be linked to ongoing legal battles over the Emirship of Kano. The title has been contested between the 15th Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and the 16th Emir, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, with cases currently before the Federal High Court, State High Court, and Appeal Court.
In May 2024, Governor Yusuf signed a new law dissolving the five emirates of Kano, Bichi, Gaya, Rano, and Karaye, reinstating Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano. However, Bayero, who was previously removed from the position, is challenging the decision in court.
