The Nigerian police have withdrawn a controversial summons issued to Emir Muhammadu Sanusi following widespread public condemnation. The move came after many Nigerians, including traditional leaders and stakeholders, criticized the police action as disrespectful to the Kano emirate, one of the oldest and most revered institutions in the country. The summons had been issued after a clash between rival royal factions during the recent Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Kano, which resulted in the death of one man.
Emir Sanusi is currently in a power struggle with his cousin, Aminu Ado Bayero, who is said to have backing from the federal government. In an effort to prevent violence, authorities in Kano banned the traditional durbar procession before the Eid celebration. Despite the ban, Sanusi took part in a horseback ride after Eid prayers, accompanied by local vigilante groups. The event triggered violence between supporters of the two rivals, leading the police to initially summon Sanusi to the national headquarters in Abuja for questioning.
Following intense backlash and intervention from respected figures, the police chief announced a reversal, stating that officers would instead visit Sanusi in Kano to collect his statement. The emir has not made any public comments on the matter. Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano in 2024 by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf after being deposed in 2020 for alleged insubordination under the previous state administration. Meanwhile, Bayero, who served as emir for four years, continues to contest his removal in court and resides in one of the smaller palaces within the emirate.
