Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has returned two pieces of land situated in different parts of Kaduna City to the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, two years after they were revoked and seized by former governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The two pieces of land are located at No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, measuring 2,284 square metres and covered by Kaduna State Certificate of Occupancy No. 30575, and No. 1 Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi, GRA, Kaduna, measuring 3,705 square metres and covered by Kaduna State Certificate of Occupancy No. 11458.
Reuben Atabo (SAN), the Abacha family lawyer, told newsmen that the right of occupancy for the two pieces of land was revoked in 2022 and seized by the immediate past governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The Kaduna State government had published a newspaper advertisement on April 28, 2022, informing the public that the governor had exercised powers under the Land Use Act of 1978 to revoke titles to plots of land within the Kaduna metropolis due to various contraventions of the terms and conditions of the Right of Occupancy.
According to Atabo (SAN), Sani Abacha’s name appeared as number 34 on the published list of revoked titles. In response, Atabo approached the Kaduna State High Court in Suit No. KDH/KAD/465/2021 and KDH/KAD/509/2022, claiming embarrassment to the Abacha family name, among other grievances.
He explained: “In his wisdom, Governor Sani, through two letters dated December 10, 2024, and signed by Mustapha Haruna, the Deed Registrar, on behalf of the Director General of Kaduna Geographic Information Service, KADGIS, reinstated the titles of the lands, instructing the title holders to pay all outstanding ground rent fees.”
The letters were addressed to Mohammed Sani Abacha, care of R.O. Atabo & Company.
The letter reinstating the title for the property at No. 9 Abakpa GRA reads partly: “I am directed to refer to the above-mentioned right of occupancy and to inform you that His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, has, in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act of 1978, reinstated the aforementioned title covered by File No. KDL/01183, situated at No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State. This reinstatement is subject to the strict condition of settling all outstanding fees and charges.”
The second letter reinstating the title for the land along Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi GRA, states: “Further to your letter of plea regarding the revocation of your title over the subject property, I am directed to inform you that His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, has, in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act of 1978, reinstated your rights and interests over the piece of land along Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna. This reinstatement is also subject to the strict condition of settling all outstanding fees and charges.”
Kaduna: Gov Sani restores to Abacha family ownership of lands revoked by El-Rufai