Officials sue Kano Emir Sanusi over eviction from palace

Officials evicted from the Kano emir’s palace over alleged disloyalty to the emir, Lamido Sanusi, have sued the emir at the state high court in Bichi.

The officials sued Mr Sanusi and 12 others for illegal eviction and destruction of their properties within the main emir’s palace.

The complainants are Usman Dako, who holds the traditional titles of Galadiman Sallama, Auwalu Maikudi, Sarkin Lema, and Sani Mohammad, alias Sani Kwano, among others.

They want the court to declare their forceful eviction from the palace last Monday unlawful.

The suit, K/M1607/2025, names Mr Sanusi, the Kano Emirate Council, the Inspector-General of Police, the State Security Services (SSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and others as respondents.

The court has ordered all parties involved to maintain the status quo ante, a legal order suspending further actions until the matter is resolved.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Dako and other loyalists of the deposed emir, Aminu Ado-Bayero, were ordered to vacate the main palace.

Members of families who have lived in the palace for decades told PREMIUM TIMES that they were asked to leave because of their parents’ alleged disloyalty to the reinstated emir, Mr Sanusi.

The development comes amid a dispute over the emirship, which erupted in May 2024 after Governor Abba Yusuf dethroned Mr Ado Bayero and four other first-class emirs in the state and reinstated Mr Sanusi as the sole Emir of Kano.

Mr Ado Bayero has challenged his deposition in court.

READ ALSO: Kano Emirship Crisis: Why we cant be loyal to Sanusi Officials

He and Mr Sanusi have been holding court in two different palaces since May 2024.

Mr Ado Bayero is in the mini palace, while Mr Sanusi is at the main Kano palace, where the officials were asked to leave.

The emirate crisis has put several officials, including district heads, council members, and other senior traditional title holders, in a dilemma over where to place their loyalty.