Kano Judicial Commission On Recovery Of Misappropriated Public Properties Holds Inaugural Sitting

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the recovery of misappropriated public properties and assets from May 2015 to May 2023 inaugurated by Governor Abba Yusuf held its inaugural sitting on Monday with a promise to be just and fair to all parties involved.

The Chairman of the commission, Justice Faruk Lawan Adamu, said during the inaugural sitting held at High Court No.3, Audu Bako Secretariat, that, “I wish to assure all and sundry that the commission will be just and give a fair hearing to all the parties involved, be it individuals, companies, agencies or entities.”

Justice Faruk Lawan called on any person that has any useful information or input that would assist the commission in its assignment to send it in writing for verification, after which he or she may be asked to appear before the commission to testify in person.

“Note again that the commission is here to serve and protect the interest of the public.

“Finally, I would like to appeal to the general public and the media in particular to give the Commission the utmost maximum support and cooperation possible and also to appeal to them to avoid the temptation to politicize the work of the commission for doing so would ultimately be detrimental to the success of the fact-finding mission of this Commission,” he said.

Recall that the 12-member commission was inaugurated by Governor Abba Yusuf on April 4, 2024, with the following terms of reference:

“To review the sale, disposal or allocation of all government-owned properties, institutional buildings including school buildings, government hospitals, praying grounds, historical and cultural sites and monuments, graveyards, and other open land or spaces within Kano Urban Area or other urban lands in other part of the Country belonging to Kano State from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023;

“To review the sale, disposal or allocation of all government-owned offices, houses, workshops and any other public building or land belonging to the State or local government council anywhere and outside the state/local government from 29th May 2015 to 29th May 2023;

“To provide a comprehensive inventory of all such affected properties, to determine the cost or value at which such sales, disposal or allocation were made and also provide the estimated current market value of such properties;

“To determine the individuals, companies, agencies or entities to which such sale, disposal or allocations were made whether such properties have changed hands and if so to whom;

“To determine the propriety of such sale, disposal or allocation and make appropriate recommendations;

“To determine if any abuses have been perpetrated in the process of such sale, disposal or allocations and identify the officials or persons responsible for such abuses;

” To determine the role of government ministries, departments and agencies or particular government officials in the process of such sales, disposal or allocations and determine their responsibility or culpability in any abuses or breaches of relevant laws and regulations;

“To make recommendations on the recovery of any government properties or institutional buildings found to be improperly sold, disposed off or allocated to any individual, company or entity;

“To make recommendations on the recovery of any farmlands belonging to members of the public or institutional building found to be improperly sold, disposed of or allocated to any individual, company or entity; and,

“To make recommendations for the recovery and restoration of any open spaces, prayer grounds, graveyards, historical or cultural sites or monuments and other open spaces as far as practicable.”