Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has returned two parcels of land in Kaduna city to the family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha. This comes two years after the properties were seized and revoked by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The reinstated properties include one located at No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna, spanning 2,284 square meters and identified by Kaduna State Certificate of Occupancy No. 30575. The second is situated at No. 1 Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna, measuring 3,705 square meters with Certificate of Occupancy No. 11458.
The Abacha family’s legal representative, Reuben Atabo (SAN), told journalists on Tuesday in Kaduna that the rights to these properties were revoked in 2022 under El-Rufai’s administration.
According to Atabo, the Kaduna State Government had announced the revocation through a newspaper notice dated April 28, 2022. The notice read, “This is to notify the public that His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, has exercised the powers vested in him under the Land Use Act, 1978, to revoke land titles within Kaduna city for various breaches of the Right of Occupancy terms and conditions.”
Atabo noted that Sani Abacha’s name appeared as number 34 in the list of individuals whose land titles were revoked. In response, Atabo filed suits KDH/KAD/465/2021 and KDH/KAD/509/2022 at the Kaduna State High Court, seeking redress for the embarrassment and damages caused to the Abacha family.
Governor Sani has now reinstated the titles through two letters dated December 10, 2024. The letters, signed by Mustapha Haruna, the Deed Registrar on behalf of the Director General of the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), were addressed to Mohammed Sani Abacha, care of R.O. Atabo (SAN) & Company.
The letter for the Abakpa GRA property stated:
“Letter of reinstatement of title covered by file No. KDL/01183, property located at No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna State. I am directed to inform you that His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, has, under the powers granted by the Land Use Act 1978, reinstated the title covered by File No. KDL/01183, situated at No. 9 Abakpa GRA, Kaduna North Local Government Area. This reinstatement is subject to the settlement of all outstanding fees and charges. Kindly cooperate to ensure compliance. The Director General extends his regards.”
The second letter, concerning the Degel Road property, read:
“Letter of reinstatement of title covered by file No. KDL/20580 over land located along Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna. Further to your letter of appeal regarding the revoked title, I am directed to inform you that His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, has reinstated your rights and interests in the land, as empowered by the Land Use Act 1978. This decision is subject to clearing all outstanding fees and charges. The Director General appreciates your cooperation and extends his regards.”
