A Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice Samuel Amobeda, has ordered the Kano State Government to pay the sum of N30 billion.
The order issued on Thursday, is to be carried out within seven days.
This is due to an ongoing unlawful demolition suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders against the state government.
Background
Previously, the court had issued a judgment on September 29, 2023, demanding that the Kano State Government pay the same N30 billion to the Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners for the unlawful demolition of their shops, which allegedly occurred without proper legal procedures.
Despite this judgment, Mr. Marwan Ahmed, the Commissioner of Works for Kano State, continued to interfere with the properties, prompting a notice of consequences from Justice Amobeda.
The Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Isah Haruna Dederi, contended that the lands in question belonged to the Kano State Government.
The notice warned of potential contempt and imprisonment if the court’s order was not adhered to.
In response, the Kano State Government sought a motion for a stay of execution of the earlier judgment while awaiting the decision of the Court of Appeal.
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Court’s decision
In his judgment, Justice Amobeda granted the motion but imposed the condition that the Kano State Government pays the N30 billion sum within seven days.
The court’s order specified that the execution of the judgment would be stayed pending the appeal’s determination.
However, the applicants were ordered to deposit the N30 billion judgment sum into the Court’s interest-yielding account within the specified timeframe.
The details of the account were to be obtained from the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court.
Justice Amobeda held that the deposited sum, along with accruing interests and after deducting administrative charges, would be paid to the party who prevails in the appeal, as determined by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court.
