The Kano state government on Friday said it would file an appeal against a Federal High Court judgement that ordered it to pay the sum of N30 billion compensation over demolition of shops at Kano Eid Ground (Filin Idi).
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that state governor, Abba Yusuf, had embarked on demolition of illegal structures, including the corner shops at Filin Idi, which the government said were acquired illegally.
Dissatisfied with the demolition, the shop owners, under the auspices of Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners, sued the state government and demanded compensation.
Delivering the judgement on Friday, Justice Samuel Amobeda said the government did not follow constitutional means to demolish the shops.
He therefore ordered the state government to pay N30 billion to the owners of the shops immediately.
Reacting to the judgement, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi, said the court lacked jurisdiction to try the case but went ahead to pass the judgement.
He said the court also failed to consider the issue of ownership of the land during trial of the case, adding that the state counsel had informed the court that those who sued the government for “illegally demolishing their shops” were not owners of the land.
“For example, the Federal High Court did not consider the issue of ownership of the land in its judgement.
“Those who sued the government in the matter were in court to prove that their property was illegally demolished. This is their demand from the court. They were not in the court to prove that they are owners of the lands on which they erected property.
“Don’t also forget that should anyone decide to seek legal redress from a court and get an injunction in his favour, it does not mean that is the end.
“Right from the onset, we have informed the court that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case. But it went on and entertained the case.
“In anticipation of the outcome of the High Court judgement, we have since prepared our documents to appeal the judgement at the Court of Appeal Court in Kano,” Mr Dederi said.
He also disclosed that the government had filed a fresh suit to challenge the ownership of the land where the demolished corner shops were erected.
“Apart from that there is also a new suit that we filed. The case will commence next week by God’s grace. We petitioned the court that the lands on which the property were erected were illegally obtained.
“Hence, whatever is going to be presented on that issue is not something that the law will entertain,” he added.
