Kano Government Makes U-turn, Says It Didn’t Banish Sanusi From Kano

Kano State Government has denied viral reports that it banished Muhammed Sanusi from the state after he was dethroned as emir of Kano.

KanyiDaily had reported that Sanusi was dethroned on Monday, March 9, 2020, over alleged disrespect to the office of the state governor and other government agencies.

Consequently, it was widely reported by newspapers that the monarch was banished to Nasarawa State where he’s expected to spend the rest of his life in exile.

However, during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, the attorney-general of Kano, Ibrahim Muktar, said that the state government did not at any time banish Sanusi.

According to him, the state government was clear in its press statement on Monday that Sanusi was dethroned, but never made any reference to any banishment. Muktar said:

“If you listen to the Secretary to the State Government when he was addressing the press on the issue of the removal of the emir from office, there was nowhere he stated that the emir was banished from Kano State.

“So, the decision of the government when the emir was removed on Monday was that he was removed from office and a new one appointed. The issue of banishment was not part of the decision of the Kano State Government.

“We have been hearing from the media that he has been banished but what I know is that he was taken out of Kano State but banishment was not part of our decision. There is no such decision to the best of my knowledge.”

Muktar said security agents decided to whisk Sanusi away from Kano State due to intelligence reports they had.

He said it was normal practice for deposed emirs to be moved away to maintain peace in the state, adding that such an action was not in contravention of the constitution which guarantees freedom of movement.

The AG further stated that Sanusi was not removed because of the corruption probe but strictly because of insubordination. He said:

“The state government has not taken the law into its hands. Let me explain that the decision to remove the emir from office is administrative and was not based on the issues pending before the court. All the issues pending before the court have not to do with the removal of the emir or the dethronement.”

When asked if the anti-corruption agency in Kano would continue with Sanusi’s probe, Muktar responded, “No decision on that actually. I cannot pre-empt the position of the government on whether investigation will stop or will continue. I cannot say as of now.”

Sanusi has been in Nasarawa State since his removal on Monday and has been denied access to visitors, according to his lawyers who had vowed to take legal action against Kano State Government.