Strong protests against Emir’s subpoena prompted Nigerian police to turn around

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Strong protests against Emir’s subpoena prompted Nigerian police to turn around

Nigerian police withdrew their subpoena to one of the country’s most respected traditional leaders after being widely condemned.

Muhammadu Sanusi’s Kano Emir competed for the royal family with his cousin Aminu Ado Bayero, who is said to have the support of the national government.

Before the recent Eid celebrations, Kano police banned Horse of the Year or Durbar, fearing trouble among supporters of rival claimants.

However, Sanusi chose to ride a horse after praying for Eid and accompanied by local vigilance.

This led to clashes between competitors, where the groups saw a man stabbed to death, prompting police to order Sanusi to appear at the national police headquarters in the capital Abuja.

However, this sparked a strong protest with many Nigerians, expressing insufficient respect for the emirate, one of the oldest institutions in the country.

Traditional leaders in Nigeria have little constitutional power but are able to exert significant influence because they are seen as custodians of religion and tradition.

The Nigerian police chief said in response to the strong reaction to the subpoena and said officials would go to Kano to get Sanusi’s statement after intervention from “respected stakeholders”.

Sanusi returned to the throne of Kano last year after being removed from the then-Kano State government under Abdullahi Ganduje.

Sanusi is the former head of the Nigerian central bank, and in May last year, Kano’s current governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was reappointed, while Bayero was fired four years after Emir.

However, some Bayero supporters have gone to court, insisting that he is justifiable Emil.

When Sanusi lived in the official residence of Emir, Bayero lived in one of the smaller palaces in the emirate.