Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has reinstated two landed properties that were previously revoked by the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, returning them to the family of late military dictator, General Sani Abacha.
The properties, located at No 9 Abakpa GRA and No 1 Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi GRA in Kaduna, were seized by the state government under El-Rufai in April 2022 due to alleged violations of occupancy terms under the Land Use Act.
In two separate letters dated December 10, 2024, and signed by Mustapha Haruna on behalf of the Director-General of the Kaduna Geographic Information Service, the Abacha family was instructed to settle any outstanding fees and charges as a prerequisite for the reinstatement of the two 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 lawyer to the Abacha family. Reuben Atabo, who confirmed the reinstatement in a statement. described it as a significant development. He said the action of the last administration 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 basis for revoking the properties”.