The Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association have been awarded N3 billion in compensation by the Kano State government, in response to the illegal demolition of their buildings.
On Thursday, the resolution was brought before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. It was finalized through a settlement application.
The disagreement started when Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ordered the demolition of 56 applicants' stores at the Kano Eid site. The applicants, acting on behalf of the association, then filed a lawsuit (FHC/KN/CS/208/2023).
Among the defendants were the State Government, the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority, the Attorney General of the State, the State Police Command, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 1 (Kano), the Kano State Commissioner of Police, and the State's Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
Judge Samuel Amobeda had originally directed the state government to pay N30 billion in compensation—a sum that was lower than the traders' original demand of N250 billion. In response to the government's noncompliance, the traders requested a Garnishee Order Nisi attaching funds from a number of entities, including the Federal Ministry of Finance, FAAC, UBA, Zenith Bank, Unity Bank, Polaris Bank, and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Dr. N. A. Ayagi, the traders' attorney, told the court of a settlement during Thursday's session.
Affis Matanmi, the state government's attorney, did not raise an objection, therefore Justice Ekwo entered the judgment as the parties' agreed-upon settlement.
