Kano: Malami Denies Involvement In Sanusi’s Ouster, Detention

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has denied involvement in the dethronement of the former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

Naija News recalls that the Kano State government led by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Monday, March 9, dethroned Emir Sanusi.

Emir Sanusi’s dethronement followed the State Council executive meeting presided over by the Governor Ganduje.

However, a statement by Alhaji Usman Alhaji, the Secretary to the State Government, said Emir Sanusi’s dethronement was due to his “total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the governor and other lawful authorities”

“The Kano State Executive Council under the chairmanship of His Excellency, the governor of Kano, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has unanimously approved the immediate removal/dethronement of the Emir of Kano Emirate, Muhammad Sanusi II,” the statement said.

Against the backdrop of this development, the former Central Bank Governor was banished from Kano to a town in Nasarawa State.

The exiled Emir Sanusi was relocated to Awe town by the Nasarawa State Government.

In a suit filed on Thursday to challenge his detention and confinement in Awe, the Emir claimed the Attorney General of Kano State, Ibrahim Muktar, and Abubakar Malami (SAN) instructed the Department of State Services and police to detain him.

Lamido Sanusi Lamido described his dethronement as unjustifiable.

He also accused security operatives of harassing and rushing him out of the palace without being allowed to pick up his personal belongings.

Reacting in a statement on Sunday by his spokesman, Umar Gwandu, Malami dismissed the allegations that he played a role in the removal of the former Emir of Kano.

“The issue of who does what over the dethronement saga has been effectively submitted for judicial determination. The matter is consequently subjudice.

“Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice will not comment one way or the other over a matter that is pending before the court”, it read.