Court restrains Kano government from demolishing plaza with 316 shops at Mallam Kato Square

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has restrained the state government from demolishing a Mega Plaza with 316 shops in Fagge Local Government Area.

The court granted an ex parte motion application dated July 19, filled by Ali Balarabe and Ibrahim Maileda.

The defendants in the suit with no. FHC/KN/CS/225/2023 are the Inspector General of Police, Kano State Government, Attorney General of Kano State, Kano State Urban Development Board, Kano Road Transport and Traffic Agency, KAROTA.

Granting the order on Thursday, the judge, S. A Amobeda, urged the parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

The plaintiff had, among others, sought the relief of the court to restrain the respondents, their agents, privies, or any other person(s) acting for and or on behalf of the Respondents from further threatening and or attempting to disturb, disrupt, and dispossess the Applicants of their fully built and occupied mega shopping plaza in Kano.

“That the Respondents, their agents, privies or any other person[s] acting for and or on behalf of the Respondents are restrained from further threatening and or attempting to disturb, disrupt and dispossess the Applicants of their fully built and occupied Mega Shopping Plaza with 316 shops, situate and located at Malam Kato Square, Fagge Local Government Area, Kano, Kano State covered by Certificate of Occupancy No. LKN/COM/2017/12, issued by the 4th Respondent to the then owners Messrs Haihus Unique Services Ltd. (Original Holders) and with Building Permit dated 5th January 2018, with Reference No. KNUPDA/BP/2017/850/5, issued by the 5th Respondent to the original holders and or taking any further steps howsoever and whatsoever and or the fundamental right to acquire and own immovable property as enshrined in the provisions of Sections 43 and 46 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 [as amended].

“That all parties are directed to maintains status quo pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. 5. That the Respondents shall be served with copies of this Order of Court, Applicant’s Motion on Notice alongside copies of the affidavit within seven days of this Order to enable the Respondents file their responses”, the judge ruled.

The judge adjourned the case to October 6, 2023 for hearing.