The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has returned two properties previously revoked by Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s former administration to the family of the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.
The properties, located at No 9 Abakpa GRA and No 1 Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi GRA in Kaduna City, were revoked by the state government under El-Rufai in April 2022, following allegations of violations of occupancy terms under the Land Use Act.
In two separate letters dated December 10, 2024, signed by Mustapha Haruna on behalf of the Director-General of the Kaduna Geographic Information Service, the Abacha family was instructed to settle outstanding fees and charges as a condition for the reinstatement of the two revoked properties.
The letter reads: “His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, has in the powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act 1978, reinstated the aforementioned title… Subject to the strict condition of settling all outstanding fees and charges.”
Meanwhile, the Abacha family’s lawyer, Reuben Atabo, confirmed the reinstatement in a statement, calling it a significant development. He noted that the previous administration’s actions had caused ‘an embarrassment to the Abacha family’, prompting legal action against the Kaduna state government.
“The Abacha family, through Atabo, welcomed the decision, describing it as a gesture of fairness and justice.”
The reinstatement marks a shift from El-Rufai’s administration, which had cited “various contraventions” as the reason for revoking the properties.
