Court stops Kano from demolishing structures on BUK road

A high court in Kano has restrained the state government from demolishing structures allegedly sited on ancient city walls on Bayero University road.

Hafsat Yahaya, the presiding judge, granted the interim order on Tuesday while ruling on an ex parte application filed by one Bashir Albasu and 19 others.

The defendants are the governor of Kano, the attorney-general of the state and the Kano Urban Planning and Development Agency

The court adjourned the suit to October 26 for a hearing on the substantive suit.

Similarly, a resident of the state had obtained an order from another high court restraining  Abba Yusuf, the governor, from further demolition of some structures located along BUK road.

S.A. Amobeda, the judge, on June 23, granted the ex-parte motion instituted by Saminu Muhammadu, restraining the governor of Kano, and agents of the state from the planned demolition of the applicant’s property sited at 41 and 43 Salanta, along BUK road.

Since assuming office on May 29, Yusuf has ordered the demolition of structures he said were “illegally” built and approved by the previous administration.

He said some public properties were given to some “sacred cows” in the immediate past administration.

Yusuf had said the demolition exercise was part of the fulfilment of his campaign promise to “restore” the urban development master plan of the city.