Garnishee order freezing Kano govt’s accounts obtained fraudulently – Official

Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi, said the garnishee order granted by a Federal High Court in Abuja in favour of Masallacin Idi shop owners and traders association was fraudulently obtained. Dederi, in a statement yesterday, claimed that the accounts of the state government were still active. He said a […]

Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi, said the garnishee order granted by a Federal High Court in Abuja in favour of Masallacin Idi shop owners and traders association was fraudulently obtained.

Dederi, in a statement yesterday, claimed that the accounts of the state government were still active.

He said a court of the same jurisdiction could not sit and decide a case that the state government has appealed against.

He said the Kano State government had filed an appeal against the N30 billion compensation granted by Justice Simon Amobeda of a Federal High Court in Kano.

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The court, following a suit by the Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders, had ordered the state government to pay 30 billion in damages for the illegal demolition of the plaintiffs’ property in June.

Dederi said the federal high court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case, as it revolves around ownership of the property, and all records of proceedings were transmitted to the Appeal Court.

He said the state government had filed a stay of execution motion pending the appeal.

He explained that it would be futile for the Federal High Court to make an order on the issue, as the case is pending before the Court of Appeal.

The attorney general said the Kano State government’s actions are supported by the provisions of the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to grant and revoke land titles.

He emphasised that the demolition of the property was carried out in the overriding public interest.

Justice I. E. Ekwo had on November 28 granted a garnishee order freezing accounts of Kano State in 21 banks including CBN.

Counsel for the incorporated trustees of Masallacin Idi Shop Owners and Traders Association, Dr Nurudden Ayagi, said by order of Justice I. E. Ekwo, accounts of the Kano State government remain frozen unless the court rules otherwise.