It seems like the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, may be facing another form of humiliation that would this time be worse than that which he faced after his power and influence were whittled down when Governor Abdullahi Ganduje created four new emirates in Kano.

This is because, on Tuesday, June 3rd 2019, reports came in that a recommendation has been made for the Emir of Kano to be placed on a suspension. This recommendation made by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, is coming as the Emir was said to have allegedly misappropriated funds to the tune of N3.4 billion.

This is yet another big blow for the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as he is still struggling with the humiliation of having to contend with his considerably reduced influence after new emirates were established in the State.

This report by the Kano State anti-graft body though still in its preliminary stage is particularly scathing as the Kano Emirate Council led by the Emir was said to have fraudulently spent more than N1.4 billion in a time period of 3 years, between 2014 and 2017.

According to the report issued by the anti-graft body, the spending of the Kano Emirate Council was in violation of the provisions of Section 120 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) as well as Section 8 of the Kano State Emirate Council Special Fund Law 2004.

Due to this alleged anomaly, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, pushed for a suspension of the Emir and other principal suspects who had a connection with the case until the investigations were concluded, as it made its recommendations.

Ironically, just moments after the report of the panel was publicised, pictures emanated of both the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, shaking hands as they met at the Eid praying ground in Kano. While the Governor was all smiles, the Emir looked away as he shook his hands.

What makes the situation all the more interesting is the fact that this would be the first time that both men would be seen together in public after the whole creation of new emirates debacle.

What is more, the move is believed by many to be a means of punishing the Emir for allegedly supporting Yusuf Abba the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2019 Gubernatorial elections in the state.

The governor though, refuted the claims, saying that he had divided the Kano Emirate into five places in order to ensure that there was more development in the state.

This calls to mind the case of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen. The former CJN who was seen as being friendly to some top figures in the opposition was hammered with allegations of failing to correctly declare his assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

In a few weeks, he was suspended from office by the President and replaced with Justice Tanko Mohammed as the CJN in an acting capacity. Onnoghen filed a case to stop his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), claiming that the CCT had no jurisdiction to try him, but the hearing was reserved even after his case was heard. Meanwhile, his case at the CCT was so accelerated that Onnoghen was convicted by the CCT – Before the Appeal Court on May 10 2019, finally acknowledged that the CCT had breached his rights to a fair hearing. But it was already too late then.

There is a striking similarity with the case of Emir Sanusi of Kano, as the bill to balkanize the Emirate was granted assent by the State Governor within just a day of passage by the Kano State House of Assembly. In an accelerated move, the Emirate was balkanized into five with the four additional emirates of Rano, Gaya, Garaye and Bichi being created in addition to the Kano emirate. In a space of two days, the Kano Emirate ceased to exist as it had for 800 years.

Going back to Onnoghen’s case, upon his suspension, it was clear that things were never going to be the same again. And it never was, as he was eventually convicted by the CCT who sacked him from office and also ordered the forfeiture of funds found in the contentious bank accounts while barring him from holding any post for 10 years.

With the way events continue to unfold in the Kano saga, it is looking like Emir Sanusi may be headed for the Onnoghen treatment because the moment he is suspended, then every avenue will be employed by the powers that be to ensure that he never steps his foot on the mantle of power anymore.

What do you think of this development in Kano? Kindly leave a comment in the section below to let us know.