In 2014, Sanusi succeeded his late uncle Dr Ado Bayero to become the 14th Fulani Emir of Kano, the second highest Muslim authority in the land (the Sultan of Sokoto being the first). However, in March 2020 he was dethroned by the Governor of Kano on grounds of showing disrespect towards government institutions. He has accepted this and asked his followers to recognize the new 15th Emir. Sanusi is the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (2009-2014) and a respected Islamic scholar who has won numerous awards. He has pointed out corruption in previous governments, pushed for an end to child marriage and been targeted by Boko Haram.