From Mustapha Saye, Kaduna
Kaduna Governor Uba Sani has returned two pieces of land 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 land, located in two different areas of Kaduna City, was returned to the Abacha family after a legal battle.
The two properties are located at No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, covering 2,284 m² and registered under Kaduna State Certificate of Occupancy No. 30575, and at No. 1 Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi, GRA, Kaduna, covering 3,705 m², with Kaduna State Certificate of Occupancy No. 11458.
Reuben Atabo (SAN), the lawyer for the Abacha family, informed the press that the Right of Occupancy (RO) for these properties was revoked in 2022 and seized by former Governor El-Rufai.
The Kaduna State government had placed a public notice in a newspaper on April 28, 2022, announcing that the governor had exercised his powers under the Land Use Act of 1978 to revoke titles to several plots of land within Kaduna metropolis due to various contraventions of the terms and conditions of their Right of Occupancy.
Atabo (SAN) noted that General Sani Abacha’s name was listed as No. 34 in the public notice regarding the land revocation.
In response, Atabo filed a lawsuit at the High Court of Justice of Kaduna State (Suit Nos. KDH/KAD/465/2021 and KDH/KAD/509/2022) seeking redress for the embarrassment caused to the Abacha family by the publication, among other claims.
However, in a gesture of goodwill, Governor Sani, through two letters dated December 10, 2024, instructed Mustapha Haruna, the Deed Registrar on behalf of the Director General of the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), to reinstate the titles to the disputed properties, with the condition that all outstanding ground rent fees be settled.
The letters were addressed to Mohammed Sani Abacha, c/o R.O. Atabo, SAN & Company.
The first letter stated:
Letter of Reinstatement of Title
File No. KDL/01183
Property: No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna State
I am directed to refer to the above-mentioned Right of Occupancy and inform you that His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, has, in the powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act 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 condition of settling all outstanding fees. We count on your cooperation. Please accept the Director General’s esteemed regards.”
The second letter read:
Letter of Reinstatement of Title
File No. KDL/20580
Property: Land Along Degel Road, Unguwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna
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 1978, reinstated your rights and interest over the piece of land along Degel Road, Unguwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna.
This reinstatement is subject to the strict condition of settling all outstanding fees. Please accept the Director General’s esteemed regards.”
This move by Governor Uba Sani marks the resolution of a long-standing issue regarding the ownership of these properties.
