In a recent turn of events, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a garnishee order, effectively freezing 24 bank accounts associated with the Kano State Government. This legal action stems from a lawsuit brought forth by the Incorporated Trustees of Masalachi Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association.
The association sought redress for what they perceived as the unlawful and unjust demolition of their shops. Presiding over the case, Justice I. E. Ekwo delivered the verdict on November 28, 2023, endorsing the attachment of funds amounting to N30 billion.
The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling, signed by Registrar Chioma Chijioke, elucidates that this measure aims to fulfill the judgment favoring the shop owners, who claimed their shops were illegally razed by the state in June 2023.
Justice Ekwo, in the court order, 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.”
Furthermore, the court has instructed the garnishees to appear and provide cause, if any, against the order Nisi being made absolute. The Judge also mandated that the judgment creditors serve the defendants and Garnishees at least 14 days prior to the upcoming 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 span across 24 banks.