Court freezes 24 Kano government accounts over N30bn compensation showdown

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a garnishee order, placing a freeze on 24 bank accounts owned by the Kano State Government.

This legal action stems from a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Masalachi Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association, seeking compensation for what they deemed as the illegal and unjust demolition of their shops.

Presiding over the case, Justice I. E. Ekwo issued the ruling on November 28, 2023, confirming the attachment of funds amounting to N30 billion.

The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling, signed by Registrar Chioma Chijioke, outlines that the objective is to satisfy the judgment favoring the shop owners following the alleged unlawful demolition carried out by the state in June 2023.

According to the court order, Justice Ekwo specified, “A garnishee order Nisi is hereby made attaching the funds (present and future) of Kano State Government, Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority, KNUPDA, and Attorney General of Kano State… to the tune of N30 billion in satisfaction of the judgment.”

The court has further mandated the garnishees to appear and present any cause against the order Nisi being made absolute. The Judge also directed the judgment creditors to serve the defendants and Garnishees at least 14 days before the next hearing scheduled for January 18, 2024.

This ruling follows a prior judgment by the Federal High Court in Kano, where the shop owners were awarded N30 billion as compensation for the demolition of their shops. The affected accounts, totaling 24, have been frozen across various banks.