A High Court in Kaduna State has given an order restraining Governor Nasir el-Rufai and six others from tampering with Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) land in the state.

Justice Edward Andow gave the order, among several prayers, following a motion on notice filed by Samuel Yusuf on behalf of the applicant.

The judge endorsed an “order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, either by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or whosoever acting on their behalf, from interfering with the plaintiff’s peaceful possession, quiet enjoyment, use and occupation of its parcel of land consisting of landed properties, structures and buildings at NIPOST Training School, NIPOST Workshop, Staff Quarters and the recreational facilities along College Road, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

The directive by the court further noted: “This is an order of interlocutory injunction pendente lite that all parties of this suit maintain status quo ante bellum and further restraining all the parties to this suit from further selling, alienating, assigning and transfer of the defendant’s property along College Road, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna, without the consent and approval of the Postmaster-General (PMG), NIPOST and the Minister of Communications, pending the hearing of the substantive suit.”

Dated March 10, 2022, the court order, in the three prayers granted, also stressed that it was “for such further orders or other orders as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”

Besides, the suit KDH/KAD/226/2022 also has the following as defendants: Kaduna State Government,Attorney-General of Kaduna State, Kaduna State Geographical System (KADGIS), Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Country Planning, Kaduna State Land Use and Allocation Committee, and Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA).

Specifically, the motion ex-parte dated March 9, 2022 sought three prayers, and all were granted.

“Upon a motion ex parte dated March 9, 2022 brought pursuant to Order 15 Rule 3 (1) (2) and Order 36 (1) (2) of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2007 of Kaduna State, S. 54 (1), S. 57 (A) (B) (C) and S. 6 (2) (3) (A) of the 2nd scheduled to NIPOST Act Cap N127, LFN, 2004. S. 49 (1), LUA 1978 as contained in S. 315 (D) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, S. 44 of the 1999 Constitution and under the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable court as provided for in S. 6 (6) of the 1999 Constitution praying for the following orders,” the court stated.