The Sokoto State Government has sealed a property being used as an African Democratic Congress campaign office in Sokoto metropolis amid a dispute over its ownership.
The building, located along Ahmadu Bello Way, was closed following questions raised by the state government over whether its current occupants had legal ownership documents.
The media aide to the ADC governorship candidate, Aminu Abdullahi, confirmed the development, saying the Commissioner for Land and Housing, Nasiru Dantsoho, visited the premises with a letter requesting occupants to establish the rightful owner of the property.
Abdullahi said the government maintained that the building belonged to the defunct Savannah Bank, which has since been liquidated, and regarded the current occupants as illegal.
Dantsoho had earlier said the government sealed the property on Monday following an alleged disturbance involving ADC supporters and suspected miscreants.
He explained that the action was taken to prevent further unrest and protect lives and property while the ownership of the building was being investigated.
The commissioner said a review of available documents, including the certificate of occupancy, indicated that the property originally belonged to Savannah Bank and that there had been no official transfer of ownership.
“Following a review of the certificate of occupancy and other relevant documents, we discovered that this property belongs to the Savannah Bank, and that ownership has not changed as of today,” he said.
Dantsoho added that the state government had contacted the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation to establish the property’s current ownership status.
“We have written to the NDIC, the custodian of this building, to clarify its present ownership, but we are yet to receive a response,” he said.
The commissioner said the government would keep the premises sealed until it received clarification from the NDIC.
He explained that the decision was intended to prevent further disturbances and ensure that the property was not occupied or accessed unlawfully while the investigation remained ongoing.
Dantsoho also invited anyone claiming ownership of the building to present relevant documents for verification.
He assured that the property would be handed over to its rightful owner once the ownership dispute had been resolved.
The commissioner warned that anyone attempting to forcefully enter the premises would face legal consequences, including prosecution.
The building previously housed the defunct Savannah Bank before it was reportedly used as an office by the Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto State. It was later occupied as an ADC campaign office.
The dispute has placed the property’s ownership at the centre of the disagreement between the state authorities and the political actors using the premises.
While the government has cited documents linking the building to the defunct bank, the current occupants have been asked to provide evidence establishing their claim to the property.
The NDIC’s response is expected to provide further clarification on the property’s ownership and the authority responsible for determining its lawful use.
West Trybe reports that the sealing of the ADC campaign office has raised questions over the legal status of the property, with the government maintaining that it will remain closed until the NDIC clarifies its ownership and the competing claims are resolved.
