The Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has refuted the claim by the Director-General of Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority, KASUPDA, Isma’il Umaru-Dikko, that it sold about 80 hectares of its land at the College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Mando.
The ABU Director of Public Affairs Directorate, Auwalu Umar, in a statement on Thursday, described the claim totally false and unfounded.
Putting the record straight, Mr Umar stressed that the University never sold its land to anybody, be it individual or corporate organization; and it will NEVER do so.
The statement reads: “The College has the Ownership Certificate (G.ITEM-No.1060) of the entire land on which it was established, in addition to the Survey Site Plan that shows the entire College boundaries.
“The University authorities fenced the entire College many years ago in order to prevent land grabbers from encroaching on its own land.
“However, recently, KASUPDA, purportedly acting on the directives of the Kaduna State Government, illegally trespassed, and recklessly and irresponsibly demolished the perimeter fence that demarcates its boundaries despite the subsisting court order stopping the government agency from such illegal action.
“The Director-General of Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), Isma’il Umaru-Dikko, indeed shamelessly lied by accusing the institution of selling its own land to individuals.
“He failed the simple test of carrying out a proper investigation to avoid embarrassing himself and the State Government, perhaps because of his inordinate greed and ambition by making the spurious allegation that he made.
“It was a desperate face-saving measure by the Isma’il Umaru-Dikko having come to terms with the consequences of his action and the crime he committed against the University.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority should know that no amount of blackmail will make ABU to allow its own land to be illegally grabbed for allocation to associates and other unpatriotic individuals.”
