A former governor of Kano state, Ibrahim Shekarau, has rescinded a gift of plot of land to an Islamic school in the state.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that in 2021, an Islamic school, Imam Malik bin Anas li Tahfizil Quran wat Tarbiyya wa Ta’alim had approached Mr Shekarau and requested for a plot of land to build classes.
This newspaper gathered that the Islamic school, located at Sabuwar Gandu in Kumbotso Local Government area, requested for the land in question as its pupils take lessons in open spaces.
It was also gathered that Mr Shekarau granted the request of the school management and donated the plot as a charity for the development of Islam.
In a letter he personally signed on August 14, 2021, Mr Shekarau said he donated the plot, located at number 44 Layin Mai Unguwa, Sabuwar Gandu, Kumbotso Local Government area.
In the letter, sighted by DAILY NIGERIAN, Mr Shekarau said ” I have donated this piece of land to this Islamic school as a charity for the development of Islamic knowledge.
“Therefore, the plot should not be included in my personal properties and should not be used as inheritance. It should also not be used for other purposes than school,” he wrote.
But sources said the former governor rescinded the donation shortly after the school management had constructed a mosque on the site.
“To our dismay, we just saw some people on the site, claiming ownership of the land, that it was sold to them by Shekarau.
“The foundation we started for the school and the mosque have all been demolished by the people claiming ownership.
“We felt very bad and confused that a person of great honor like Shekarau should not withdraw such gesture,” laments one of the officials of the school.
When contacted for comment, spokesman for Mr Shekarau, Sule Ya’u Sule, said he contacted his principal about the matter and he confirmed donation of the plot to the Islamic school.
According to Mr Sule, the school management had however betrayed the trust reposed to it by Mr Shekarau by allocating shops instead of building the school, which is the purpose of donating the plot.
“Wallahi it is a case of betrayal. The people Mallam [Shekarau] gave the plot in trust have begun allocating shops, betraying the trust and purpose of the charity.
“The picture they showed you is not the picture of the plot. But the plot in question is being allocated for shops by the school management.
“Mallam told me that he bought the plot from his uncle and decided to donate it to the Islamic school but they ended up selling it. That is why Mallam, out of anger, withdrew the donation.
“What they said is totally lie and this is the truth of the matter,” Mr Sule said.
He added that Mr Shekarau had even complained to Sheikh Abdulwahab whom he handed over the plot to for onward allocation to the school management.
“Now the case has been taken to court and Sheikh Abdulwahab was very furious about why the people have done. He even reprimanded them. He cursed them for betraying the trust,” he said.
