Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Muhammadu Sanusi II
Emir of Kano
1st reign8 June 2014 – 9 March 2020
Coronation7 February 2015
PredecessorAdo Bayero
SuccessorAminu Ado Bayero
2nd reign23 May 2024 – present
PredecessorAminu Ado Bayero
Born (1961-07-31) 31 July 1961
Kano, Northern Region, Nigeria
Spouse
List
  • Sadiya Ado Bayero
  • Maryam
  • Rakiya
  • Sa'adatu Mustafa Barkindo
Issue
List
  • Aminu
  • Shaheeda
  • Hafsat (Sadeeqa)
  • Saleeha
  • Khadija
  • Adam (Ashraf)
  • Mustapha (Imam)
  • Aisha
  • Husna
  • Muhammadu Inuwa
  • Muhammadu Sanusi
  • Maryam
  • Halimatu Sadiya (Rafeeqah)
  • Zainab Khausar
Names
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
Regnal name
Muhammad Sanusi II
HouseDabo
FatherAminu Sanusi
MotherSaudatu Hussain
ReligionSunni Islam
EducationKing's College, Lagos
Alma mater
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria
In office
3 June 2009  20 February 2014
Appointed byUmaru Yar'Adua
Preceded byCharles Soludo
Succeeded bySarah Alade (acting)
Religious life
ReligionIslam
DenominationSunni
TariqaTijaniyyah

Muhammadu Sanusi II, CON (Ajami: محمد السنوسي, Muhammadu Sanusi na biyu (Listen); born 31 July 1961), known by the religious title Khalifa Sanusi II (Ajami: خليفة السنوسي), is the spiritual leader (khalifa) of the Tijanniyah Sufi order in Nigeria and the emir (Sarki) of the ancient city-state of Kano. He is a member of the Dabo dynasty and the grandson of Muhammadu Sanusi I. He succeeded his great-uncle Ado Bayero to the throne on 8 June 2014, assuming the regnal name Muhammadu Sanusi II. He spent most of his reign advocating for cultural reform in Northern Nigeria. In 2020, he was deposed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and was succeeded by his cousin Aminu Ado Bayero. On 23 May 2024, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reinstated Sanusi as emir of Kano.

Sanusi is a prominent traditional and religious figure in West Africa. As the Khalifa of the Tijaniyyah Sufi order of Nigeria and the neighbouring countries, he arguably has a politico-spiritual authority over the second largest Sufi order, with over 50 million adherents. He grew up in the royal palace of his grand-uncle, and as a youth received both religious and secular education. Prior to his accession, Sanusi was an Islamic intellectual, academic, political economist and banker. He served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, ushering in banking reforms until his suspension after he made a controversial allegation of $20 billion in government coffers.