Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has reinstated two pieces of land in Kaduna city back to the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, two years after they were revoked and seized by the immediate past governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The two properties are situated 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 Certificate of Occupancy No. 11458.
The Abacha family’s lawyer, Reuben Atabo (SAN), while addressing journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday, explained that the Right of Occupancy for the properties was revoked in 2022 under El-Rufai’s administration.
The Kaduna State Government had placed a newspaper advertisement on 28 April 2022, stating: “This is to inform the general public that His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State has, in exercise of the power conferred on him under the Land Use Act, 1978, revoked titles to plots of land within Kaduna metropolis for various contraventions of terms and conditions of Right of Occupancy.”
Atabo added that the name of Sani Abacha appeared as number 34 on the list published for the revocation of land titles.
To challenge the revocation, Atabo approached the Kaduna State High Court through suit numbers KDH/KAD/465/2021 and KDH/KAD/509/2022, seeking redress for the embarrassment caused to the Abacha family name, among other claims.
In a recent development, Governor Sani reinstated the land titles through two official letters dated 10 December 2024, signed by Mustapha Haruna, Deed Registrar, on behalf of the Director General of the Kaduna Geographic Information Service.
The letters, addressed to Mohammed Sani Abacha, care of R.O. Atabo (SAN) & Company, conveyed the governor’s decision.
The first letter regarding No. 9 Abakpa GRA read:
“Letter of reinstatement of title covered by file no. KDL/01183, property properly described as No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna State: 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 powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act 1978, reinstated the aforementioned title covered by File no. KDL01183, lying and situate at No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State. Subject to the strict condition of settling all outstanding fees and charges. While counting on your cooperation, accept the Director General’s esteemed regards.”
The second letter concerning Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi GRA similarly stated:
“Letter of reinstatement of title covered by file No. KDL/20580 over a piece of land along Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna; Further to your letter of plea on 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, Ungwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna, subject to the strict condition of settling all outstanding fees and charges. Accept the Director General’s esteemed regards, please.”
