Nigerian police have rescinded a summons issued to the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, following widespread condemnation. The emir, who has been embroiled in a tussle for the throne with his cousin Aminu Ado Bayero, was initially called to appear before authorities after clashes erupted between their supporters during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
The violence, which resulted in a fatal stabbing, followed Sanusi’s decision to ride on horseback in defiance of a police ban on the traditional durbar parade, a key cultural event during Eid, over concerns of potential unrest.
The summons sparked outrage across the nation, with many Nigerians arguing that it undermined the respect due to the emirate, one of the oldest and most revered institutions in the country. Traditional leaders, though lacking formal constitutional power, wield considerable influence as custodians of religion and culture. In light of public backlash and the intervention of prominent figures, Nigeria’s police chief announced that officers would instead travel to Kano to gather Sanusi’s statement, rather than requiring him to appear in Abuja.
Sanusi, who was reinstated as the emir in May 2024 after being ousted in 2020, has not publicly commented on the matter. His reappointment by the current governor of Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf, reversed the decision of his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje. Meanwhile, Bayero, who remains in a legal battle to assert his claim to the throne, resides in one of the emirate’s smaller palaces, as the political rivalry between the two men continues to stir tension in Kano.