By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Respite has come for family of former Head of State, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, as Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state reversed yet another action of his predecessor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, and returned to the family, lands which titles were revoked by El-Rufai.
Gov. Sani returned two pieces of the lands located in as many different parts of the state capital, Kaduna,North-Central Nigeria.
The lands were returned to the Abacha family two years after El-Rufai confiscated them.
Recall that school fees hike, approach to tackling insecurity and several other policies of El-Rufai, deemed harsh by the people of the state, have previously been overturned by the Sani administration which came to office on May 29,2023.
The two pieces of land are respectively situated at No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, measuring 2284m2, and covered by Kaduna State Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) No. 30575; and the other plot,located at No. 1 Degel Road, Unguwan Rimi, GRA, Kaduna, measuring 3,705 square meters and covered with Kaduna State C of O No. 11458.
The Abacha family had earlier written the state government seeking restoration of the plots.
Abacha’s family lawyer, Reuben Atabo (SAN) told newsmen that the Right of Occupancy (R-o-O) on both pieces of land was revoked in 2022 and seized by El-Rufai.
At the time, the state government had placed a newspaper advert, specifically on April 28, 2022 which ran thus: “This is to inform the general public that His Excellency, the governor of Kaduna State has in exercise of the power conferred on him under the Land Ise Act, 1978 revoked Titles to plots of land within Kaduna metropolis for various contraventions of terms and conditions of Right of Occupancy”.
According to Atabo, Abacha’s name was number 34 on the published list of the revocation of the lands.
Barrister Atabo had approached the High Court of Kaduna State in suit No.KDH/KAD/465/2021 and suit No.KDH/KAD/509/2022 respectively for reliefs over claim of embarrassment to the Abacha family name in the publication, among other claims.
Overturning the former governor’s actions, however, Gov. Sani had in two letters dated December 10, 2024, through Mustapha Haruna, Deed Registrar, on behalf of the Director General, Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), reinstated the titles of the lands, asking the title holders to merely settle outstanding fees on ground rent.
The letters were addressed to Mohammed Sani Abacha, the late Head of State’s son, through his lawyers, Messrs R.O Atabo, SAN & Company.
The first letter, made available to peopleandpolitics.net, read: “Letter of reinstatement of title covered by file no. KDL/01183 property properly described as no. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna State: I am directed to refer to the above mentioned Right of Occupancy and to inform you that His Excellency, the governor of Kaduna State has in the powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act 1978, reinstated the aforementioned title covered by File no. KDL01183 lying and situate at No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State. Subject to strict condition of settling all outstanding fees and charges. While counting on your cooperation, accept Director General’s esteem regards.”
The second letter, also made available to this newspaper, read: “Letter of reinstatement of title covered by file No. KDL/20580 over a piece of land along Degel Road, Unguwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna; Further to your letter of plea on the revocation of your title over the subject property, I am directed to inform you that His Excellency, the governor of Kaduna State has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act 1978, reinstated your rights and interest over the piece of land along Degel Road, Unguwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna, subject to the strict condition of settling all outstanding fees and charge. Accept the Director General’s esteem regards, please.”
