Court restrains Kano govt from demolishing buildings

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has restrained Kano State government and its agents from demolishing some buildings located in Salanta-BUK Road in the state metropolis.

Recall the state government has marked for demolition houses located in Salanta layout on the grounds that they were sold to the owners illegally by the past administration.

In court papers sighted by Daily Trust Sunday, the judge, Justice S.A. Amobeba while ruling on motion ex-parte filed on behalf of one Saminu Muhammad on Friday, barred Kano government from demolishing the applicant’s property located at No. 41 and 43 Salanta, along BUK Road, Kano.

Joined as respondents in the suit are Attorney-General of Kano State, Solicitor General of Kano State, governor of Kano State, Kano State government and Kano State Bureau for Land Management.

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Others are the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA), Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, Commissioner of Police, Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The court after listening to the motion moved by counsel for the plaintiff, Prof. Nasiru Aliyu (SAN), also ordered accelerated hearing of the substantive suit.

“That order of this court is hereby made in the interim restraining the respondents by themselves, agents, servant or proxies whatsoever called from encroaching, trespassing, 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 No. KNMLO8228 and Certificate of Occupancy No. KNMLO8229 pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion”.

Meanwhile, the judge has adjourned the matter to July 10 for hearing of the substantive suit.

Daily Trust reports that the state government had recently marked several buildings at the Salanta area of the state for demolition, saying the land was “illegally” allocated to the people for construction. The land was said to have been carved out of the Kano State Polytechnic.