The Federal High Court in Kano has issued a notice of consequences regarding the disobedience of its order against Mr Marwan Ahmed, the Commissioner of the Ministry of Works in Kano State.
It will be recalled that the court had previously issued an order on September 29th, restraining the Kano state government from interfering with the properties of the applicants located at Kano Eid Ground, Kofar Mata, in Kano Metropolis.
It will also be recalled that the counsel representing the Incorporated Trustees of Massallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association and the other 55 applicants, Dr Nuraddeen Ayagi, approached the court to request that the Commissioner be cautioned about the repercussions of disobeying the court order.
The Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda, had previously ruled that the Kano State Government, KNUPDA, and the Attorney General of the state should jointly pay the sum of N30 billion to the applicants for punitive damages and for violating their fundamental rights and ownership of properties as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The counsel informed the court that the commissioner is continuing to enter and tamper with the mentioned properties, despite the court judgement.
Dr Ayagi, therefore, disclosed that disregarding a court order undermines the integrity and authority of the judiciary, and such actions will not be taken lightly.
According to him, the court expects full compliance with its orders, and any further disobedience will result in appropriate legal consequences.
The court has reminded Mr Marwan Ahmed that failure to comply with the court’s order could lead to a finding of contempt and imprisonment.
All efforts made to get the reaction of the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi, regarding the notice of consequences of disobedience, have been unsuccessful.
However, in an earlier response to the judgement, Barrister Dederi stated that the judgement did not address the issue of legal ownership of the lands.
He also disclosed that the state government has already filed an appeal challenging the court’s verdict.
Barrister Dederi argued that the case revolves around ownership and that the entire land belongs to the Kano State Government.
