Court orders Kano govt to pay N30b to owners within seven days

The court has ordered the Kano state government to pay the amount within seven days and also stop further demolition of buildings.

The suit was filed by Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders against Kano State Government.

The judgment had ordered the Kano State Government to pay the Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid shop owners the amount for the unlawful demolition of their shops without following proper legal procedures.
Delivering the judgement, the Judge, Justice Samuel Amobeda, has conditionally ruled that the sum of N30 billion be deposited in the Court Bank Account within seven days, pending the outcome of the appeal process.
Meanwhile, despite the court’s judgment, it was reported that the Kano state ommissioner of Works, Marwan Ahmed, had continued to demolish some buildings.

This action has led to a notice of consequences issued by Justice Amobeda against the commissioner of works. The notice warned of potential contempt and imprisonment if the order was not complied with.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Government had sought a motion on notice for a stay of execution of the earlier judgment, pending the decision of the Court of Appeal.

In response, Justice Samuel Amobeda granted the motion with the condition that the Kano State Government should pay the sum of N30 billion.
The court ordered the funds to be deposited in the Court Account within seven days.

The court’s orders stated that the execution of the judgment from suit number FHC/KN/Cs/208/2023, involving the Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association, shall be stayed pending the appeal’s determination.
The judgment debtors/applicants were instructed to pay the N30 billion judgment sum into the Court’s interest-yielding account within the specified timeline.
The details of the account were directed to be obtained from the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court.

The deposited sum, along with accruing interests and after deducting administrative charges, will be paid to the party who succeeds in the appeal, as determined by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court.
Responding earlier, the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Isah Haruna Dederi told the court that, Kano state government is the sole owner of all the lands in the state.