A Kano Federal High Court presided by Justice Simon Amobeda on Friday ordered Kano State Government to pay N30 billion compensation to Kofar Mata Eid Ground shop owners for illegal demolition of their property.
It will be recalled that days after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was sworn into office in June, his NNPP administration had embarked on demolition spree, pulling down shopping malls around the Kano Eid Ground at Kofar Mata, among others.
The applicants Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Idi Shop Owners, Traders Association and 56 others, through their Counsel, Dr Nuraddeen Ayagi, prayed then court for the compensation.
They filed a motion exparte seeking for their enforcement of fundamental rights, right to own properties and damages against the State Government for demolishing their shops.
The respondents in the suit are: Kano State Government, Kano State Urban Development Authority, Attorney General of Kano, Nigeria Police, AIG Zone 1, Commissioner of Police Kano.
Others are Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and NSCDC Kano Commandant.
Justice Amobeda averred that the Kano state government and seven other respondents action of forcefully demolishing and vandalising the applicants shops without due process to law is illegal and unconstitutional.
“The demolishing violates the applicants right to own property, right to life cum livelihood and right to dignity of human face as unprofessional.”
Amobeda ordered the first to third respondents to jointly pay the applicants the sum of N10 billion as general damages for violation of the applicants fundamental right to life and ownership of property as guaranteed by law.
“I hereby ordered the respondents to also pay the applicants additional sum of N20 billion for punitive and exemplary damages,” Amobeda said.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that on July 22, a Federal High Court in Kano had ordered the Kano State Government and other respondents to jointly pay two residents, Saminu Shehu and Tasiu Shehu, N1 million each, for attempting to demolish their properties at Salanta Quarters in Kano Metropolis.
The applicants, through their counsel, Mr Bashir Ibrahim, filed a motion ex parte seeking the court to enforce fundamental rights of owning properties and N50 million damage each, against the state government for marking their residences, along BUK road, for demolition.
