Ganduje moves to remove Sanusi as Emir of Kano, As Anti-graft Agency Invites Emir’s Uncles, Brother Over Alleged Financial Misconduct

In what appears like a move towards the rumoured dethronement of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the State Public Complaint Commission and Anti-corruption Commission has invited the Emir’s uncles and brother for questioning over alleged financial misconduct.

Those invited are his two uncles, Isa Sanusi Bayero and Mannir Sanusi Bayero, who is the Chief of Staff of the Emirate Council; his brother, Danburan Mujitaba, who is the Falaki of Kano and, the Accountant of the Council, Muhammad Sani Kwaru.

They were to give explanations for alleged misappropriation of Emirate Council’s funds to the anti-graft agency.

A letter of invitation dated May 2, 2019, sent to the Emirate Council’s officials stated that “the allegation violates Section 26 of the Commission’s Enabling Law, in the management of Kano State Emirate Council funds, covering the period of 2013 to 2017.”

Those invited were alleged to either have knowledge of the allegation against the Emirate Council, or have allegedly participated in the act.

The letter said the commission was inviting the staff over alleged violation of section 26 of its enabling law in the management of the emirate’s funds.

The letter also stated that the invitation was sequel to the power conferred to it under “section 9 and 15 of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended).”

Also at Monday’s plenary of the house of assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, the speaker, read a letter from one Ibrahim Salisu and others, seeking the creation of new Kano emirates in Karaye, Bichi, Rano and Gaya.

Ironically, Ganjude’s move to break the emirate into smaller units will mirror what Abiola Ajimobi, the outgoing governor of Oyo state, did to the olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji, whose authority Ajimobi sought to decimate by approving 21 beaded kings for Ibadan.

Ganjude and Ajimobi are in-laws.

Sanusi II was appointed the 14th emir in 2014 after his suspension from office as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by former president Goodluck Jonathan.

The Emir’s problem with Ganduje is usually traced to his critical comments in 2017 on the award of contracts to Chinese companies by state government and the foreign trips of the governor.

Shortly after the comment, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission alleged the misappropriation of N6billion by the Kano emirate council “without the approval of the state government”.

The probe was halted then but it has now been revived.

Sanusi II is believed to have opposed the re-election of Ganjude.

Ganjude lost the Kano municipal heavily, leading to rumours that he would come after the emir after the election.