Nigerian police have withdrawn a summons issued to one of the country's most respected traditional leaders after it was widely condemned.

The emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, is engaged in a tussle for the crown with his cousin Aminu Ado Bayero, who is said to enjoy the support of the national government.

Prior to the recent Eid al-Fitr celebration, police in Kano banned the annual horse parade, or durbar, fearing trouble between supporters of the rival claimants.

However, Sanusi chose to ride on horseback after Eid prayers, accompanied by local vigilantes.

This led to clashes between rival groups, which saw one man stabbed to death, prompting the police to order Sanusi to appear at the national police headquarters in the capital, Abuja.

However, this prompted an outcry with many Nigerians saying it showed a lack of respect to the emirate, which is one of the oldest institutions in the country.

Traditional leaders in Nigeria hold few constitutional powers but are able to exert significant influence as they are seen as custodians of both religion and tradition.

In response to the strong reaction against the summons and following the intervention of "respected stakeholders", Nigeria's police chief said that officers would instead go to Kano to obtain Sanusi's statement.

The emir has not commented on the summons.

Sanusi returned to the Kano throne last year after he was ousted in 2020 for "insubordination'' to the then Kano state government under Abdullahi Ganduje.

Sanusi, a former head of Nigeria's central bank, was reappointed by Kano's current Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, last May, and Bayero was sacked after four years as emir.

However, some of Bayero's supporters have gone to court, maintaining he is the rightful emir.

While Sanusi is living in the emir's official residence, Bayero is residing in one of the emirate's smaller palaces.