The household of late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has cried out over the actions of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai from mobilising gear to clean the site of the demolished Durbar Hotel despite a court order restraining him and government agencies from doing so.
A High Court in Kaduna presided over by Justice Hannatu Balogun on January 21 restrained Governor Nasir El-Rufai and bureaus of the Kaduna State Government from demolishing and carrying over of Durbar hotel Plc.
The governor had in a letter dated December 31, 2019, also addressed Alhaji Mohamed Abacha revoked the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) belonging to the disputed Durbar Hotel, situated along the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari/Independence Way, Kaduna.
The attorney to the Abacha’s family, Dr Reuben Atabo, told journalists Wednesday in Kaduna the governor is alleged to have reasoned plans to flip the hotel land into a public garden and relaxation spot.
He noticed that governor El-Rufai had moved equipment to the property and clearing of the site had begun in earnest in the last one week.
“We’re amazed to see a Caterpillar clearing the site in the very first week of May till date when Kaduna High Court has fixed May 30, 2021, to rule on the injunction restraining the defendants from interfering with the land,” the family lawyer said.
Dr Atabo, that had been represented by Mr Joshua Rimven at a press briefing in Kaduna, stated, “We are imagining the authorities of Kaduna State to have taken Caterpillar into the site to clean the place because we have a case between the demolished Durbar hotel and also the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai since the first defendant.
“Additional defendants would be the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner of Justice, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KASUPDA) and the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS).
“There’s already an injunction restraining them from interfering or coming into this property or perform anything on the land after demolishing the place last time.
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“There are two matters from the case; there is one at the Supreme court and also at the High court before Justice Hannatu Balogun which is around the demolition of this hotel.
“The situation at the Supreme court is about the Durbar resort itself before it was demolished; that possesses it between the national authorities and the Abacha family that we won at the Appeal court.
“There is a court order in the High court which none of the parties must interfere with the property. But we’re surprised that we saw people on the floor taking measurements and clearing the land.
“When we asked them they said it was the Kaduna State Commissioner for Works that delivered them to do so.
“To us, this is contrary to the Court Order that not one of the parties should interfere with the land nor do anything on the property.
“But they decided to take the law into their hands. This is very unfortunate. It’s the Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai which should be held responsible for this breach of law.
“They removed all the Caveat Emptor notice placed on the land without the consent of the legal procedure.
“They’ve disobeyed Court Order, it’s contempt of court. The authorities are there to enforce law and order. We will petition the Commissioner of police to enforce court order”.
When contacted on the telephone to react to this allegation of contempt, the State Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP), Mr Bayero Dari. Said he was not in a position to respond to this allegation.
But, Mr Adekeye didn’t respond to calls put across to him for his answer about the allegation of contempt.
