A federal High Court sitting in Kano State has restrained the state government from further demolishing, revoking and trespassing on buildings and other landed properties in the state.

The court order came amid mass demolition and revocation of landed properties by Governor Abba Yusuf. In an application filed by Saminu Muhammad, owner of two buildings already marked for demolition in Salanta Quarters along Bayero University Kano (BUK), against 12 defendants, the court granted the ex parte order restricting the defendants’ action.

Defendants in the suit include the state government, Attorney General, Solicitor General, Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
A certified copy of the order granted by Justice Simon Amobeda and sighted by The Guardian, stated: “The defendants and their agents should stay action pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

The court, after listening to the motion moved by the planitiff counsel, Prof. Nasiru Aliyu (SAN), ordered accelerated hearing of the case and adjourned till July 10, 2023.

“That order of this court is hereby made in the interim restraining the respondents by themselves, agents, servants or proxies whatsoever called from encroaching, entering, invading, demolishing or revoking the applicant’s titles or doing any other act in respect of the applicant’s property No. 41 and 43 situate at Salanta, along BUK Road, Kano, covered by Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) number KNMLO8228 and KNMLO8229 pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.

THE Kwankwasiyya Movement, a component of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano, yesterday, lamented the government’s action, describing it as unreasonable and uncalled for. 

Leader of group, Sanusi Balarabe, in a viral YouTube video, admitted to being a die-hard Kwankwasiyya with his family, but regretted that the Yusuf government was not voted for to demolish property.  He said they believe in Kwankwasiyya because its leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, performed creditably in the past, which was why they voted the NNPP. 

Balarabe said: “In all honesty, none of us voted the government thinking it will carry out these demolitions. It is wastage to demolish properties indiscriminately and, therefore, unreasonable and condemnable.

“Even if they were owned by Nigeriens, at least they are human beings with entitlements; they improve the revenue base of the state by paying taxes to government, which makes it a huge wastage to demolish ordinarily productive assets.”