A businessman in Kano state, Ibrahim Mukhtar, has threatened to sue the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority, KNUPDA, for demolishing his property.
The said property, situated at Alhamsad Tower, Gandu Layout in Kano, was demolished by KNUPDA on Monday, immediately after completion.
But at a press briefing at the demolished site in Kano on Friday, Mohammed claimed to have followed due process in building the property.
According to him, he obtained an approval from KNUPDA to build the property, which was meant to be an eatery, but it was “arbitrarily” demolished without notice.
“What actually happened as I stand before you with a heavy heart, this is once a beautiful place we constructed, but when I turn back you can see what happened as a result of the demolition that was carried out by KNUPDA of Kano State. We were not given any notice prior to this demolition.
“We just woke up on Monday morning to find the building in rubble,” he lamented.
According to him, he obtained all the clearance and approvals from KNUPDA, adding that the agency had also sent its representatives to supervise the project to ensure it is carried out based on its laws.
“My driving force for constructing this eatery is just to help our younger ones, our brothers, our children to get something, to get employment. I’m not in this business to make money.
When contacted for comment, the managing director of KNUPDA, Ibrahim Yakubu Adamu claimed that the demolished building was encroached to the main road by about eight meters.
According to the MD, the agency had never issued approval for Mr Mohammed to erect the building.
“We served him first and second notice but no response. We have been following his building right from the beginning.
“We have every evidences to demolish his project. At KNUPDA, we never demolish properties without following due process.
“Let me tell you that by January, we are stopping demolishing. We have designated courts to prosecute development laws based on Section 16 of the KNUPDA Act.
“We are treating his case from the development control unit. He applied for approvals and I agree he paid, you can pay for application and the payment doesn’t guarantee you approval.
“So, we have every evidences that his structure is illegal that is why we demolished it,” he said.
