Officials of the Kano Land Bureau have again sealed off the building housing the chamber of a senior lawyer, Nureini Jimoh, SAN, who secured victory against the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje-led faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that a day after securing the epic victory, the state government had sealed off the building with padlocks when the lawyer and his colleagues were working inside their offices.
Following outcry by the Kano branch of the Nigerian Bar Association and media, the office was unsealed on the same day.
But DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the officials returned in the wee hours of the night to seal off the building again.
“This early morning [Friday], the Kano State Government has renewed its onslaught on the lawyer again when the officials went back to lock and seal the office again. It is interesting to note that the premises is the only one in Kano State that is affected by the Government policy. The action was carried on overnight. It is shameful and unfortunate that the Government of Kano State is bent in its illegalities,” a source familiar with the development said.
The Kano State Bureau for Land Management on Thursday offered the explanation for the action, saying the target of the action was the owner of the building and not the lawyer.
Murtala Umar, spokesperson of the Bureau, said: “The state government sealed property belonging to Isiyaka Rabi’u & Sons at C14/C16 Murtala Muhammad way through its committee on Land Use Charges.
“The committee issued a demand notice to the owner of the said property on the 14th September, 2021 and also served him with warning notice after a month reminding him to come and pay the outstanding ground rent that he did not pay from 2016 to 2021.
“We sealed about 30 properties yesterday 1/12/2021 in different parts of the state such as properties at Zoo road, Zaria road and Ibrahim Taiwo road.
“Also seven properties were sealed at Murtala Muhammad way who were served with demand and warning notice and are yet to respond. Therefore, the committee will continue to seal any property that his owner refuses to comply with the Land use act.
“As Land custodian our record shows that property in plot C14/C16 belongs to Isiyaka Rabi’u & Sons not Barrister Nuraini Jimo. Our concern is the owner of the property not who is renting the property.”
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that there is repression against opposition elements in the state, culminating in attacks and arsons of properties owned by the governor’s opponents.
