Kano government didn’t dispose Court property, AG replies NNPP guber candidate

The Kano state government has debunked the purported sale of judicial property, insisting the allegation is unfounded and should be disregarded by the public.

Besides, the government declared that those peddling the allegation are simply taking undue advantage to misrepresent the facts for political interest just to paint the administration black while deceiving members of the public.

The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Kabiru Abba Yusuf, has instituted legal action against the state government over what he described as the indiscriminate sale of court premises.

The plaintiff is asking the court to restrain the government from further sales of the court premises.

The lower courts in question are, Upper Shari’a Court Gidan Maitasine, Yan Awaki, Upper Shari’a Court Yan Alluna, Upper Shari’a Court Shahuci, and Upper Shari’a Court Goron Dutse. Others are Upper Shari’a Court Kasuwar Kurmi, and Upper Shari’a Court Filin Hockey.

Reacting to the legal process, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kano, Barr. Musa Abdullahi Lawan described the claim as fake, unfounded, and politically motivated. Lawan said there was a misrepresentation of facts regarding the claims of the three plaintiffs.

Addressing journalists on the development, Lawan explained that the government has no plan and would not dispose of the judicial property for no reason.

The attorney general, however, said what appeared differently in the eye of the public was the relocation and rehabilitation of some of the courts for convenience purposes.

According to him, there was no court in Kano on the verge of being sold as alleged by the political opponents.

He said the government’s decision to relocate Yan awaki Upper Shari’a Court was due to the fact that the court building had been taken over by Kofar Wambai Motor Park and Market, stating that the Court is not supposed to be located where there is a distraction.

He further said even a vehicle’s horn or any other things that will distract the attention of a judge, court officials, and litigants are not allowed in court.

”To avoid being distracted, by vehicles and passengers in the park, Yan awaki Court has been relocated to BUK New Site Road, where a whole Shari’a Court Division that includes, Shari, a Court, Upper Shari’a Court and Shari’a Court of Appeal, billed to be completed by the end of September 2022, as well as official launching by Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,” he said

Similarly, he noted that the Upper Shari’a Court Kurmi Market has also been taken over by marketers, explaining that it is well known that hawkers are roaming around the premises of the court while distracting the business of the court.

The AG expressed concern that adjudication needs a serene environment to avoid a miscarriage of justice.

“Additionally, marketers and hawkers have taken over Yan’alluna Court. We received a series of complaints from lawyers and litigants that the Court has no parking space, the remaining parking space in the court premises has currently been taken over by marketers’ stalls. Again, the government in its own magnanimity also moved the Yan Alluna court to Shahuci. Now, we can make meaningful use of spaces in Shahuci Upper Shari’a Court to build a new court for Kurmi Market and Yan Alluna Courts in a single complex.

“Considering the dilapidated nature of Shahuci Upper Shari’a Court, in addition to flooding during the rainy season, the government has decided to include the court in the project. Very soon construction of Shahuci Upper Shari’a Court Complex will be concluded to accommodate three new Courts, namely, Kurmi Market Upper Shari, a Court, Yan Alluna Court and Shahuci Upper Shari’a Court, all in the same Complex.”

Lawan further stated that a new court will be constructed behind Fagge Upper Shari’a Court to relocate the Court of Yan,alluna while challenging the plaintiff to substantiate its claims with evidence or remain silent.