Kano Govt Opposes N30bn Compensation To Victims Of Houses It Demolished

The Kano government has opposed a court ruling to pay a N30 billion compensation to the victims of the demolition exercise it carried out.

This it has done by filing an appeal against compensation judgment handed against it by Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano.

The Kano government stance N30bn Compensation was broken to newsmen today November 9, by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Haruna Dederi.

Giving reason for the state government’s opposition to the judgement, Dederi said the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

POWER OF THE LAND USE ACT

He said the case centres on the ownership of the property, and that the state government had to proceed on the appeal, based on the above conviction.

Dederi cited the provisions of the Land Use Act, which empowered the government to grant and revoke land, as the basis for the state government’s action.

According to him, the Court of Appeal has scheduled the hearing of the motion on stay of execution for Dec. 4, even as the record of the Federal High Court proceedings had been transmitted to it.

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Dederi stated that since the case was pending before the Court of Appeal, that it would be useless for the Federal High Court to make any orders on it.

Besides, he underscored the interest of the public as the motive for the demolition exercise.

The Eagle reports that last June, the Kano State government had carried out a demolition exercise that affected buildings which owners asserted were legally acquired.

This formed the foundation for demand for a N30bn Compensation

A non-government organisation for example, Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative’s Zahraddeen Sani, had expressed grievance on the matter, while addressing journalists.

He had said: “We are here to express our grievances over the demolition of properties legally acquired by indigenes and investors by Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf.

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“We believe that you will convey our message to the governor, believing that the Almighty God will touch his heart to listen to the cry of the people.

 “The people of Kano State unanimously voted for Governor Abba Yusuf to bring development to the state. It was believed that the governor was the messiah of the turbulent times and would continue with the people-oriented programmes of his predecessor to salvage the people of Kano State.

 “It is however unfortunate that within six days in office, the perceived messiah became a source of sorrow to many residents and indigenes of Kano State, who acquired land from the previous administration, led by Abdullahi Ganduje, only for the current governor to order the demolition of properties worth over N226bn within three weeks in office”.