Gyellesu community in the ancient city of Zaria, Kaduna state has sued the Nigerian Army over piece of farmland that both the community and the Army are laying claim.
The case was mentioned on Wednesday at the High Court II sitting in GRA, Zaria where the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Buratai; Commandant, Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria, Major General Mohammed Muktar Bunza; Minister of Defense, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd) and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, were respectively named as second, third, fourth and fifth respondents.
The community claimed that the Army forcefully seized the land, which they inherited from their ancestors.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mrs Halima Olodo, said the court has slated today for mentioning of the case, while the defendants’ counsel, Mr. A. I. Omaji, said their response on the interlocutory injunction has been filed.
The presiding judge, Justice Kabir Dabo, adjourned the case to March 11, 2020 for hearing of arguments on the interlocutory injunction.
Mrs. Olodo said, after the session, that the court had earlier granted an order restraining the Nigerian Army from collecting the said piece of farmland from the Gyellesu community.
Similarly, counsel to the respondents said they were ready to come to the court on the slated date for the hearing of the interlocutory injunction.
The dispute over the piece of land started when the Nigerian Army some years back claimed that the farmland used mainly for irrigation belongs to its Chindit Cantonment, just as negotiation to resolve the issue amicably had failed.
