Communities drag BUA, Sokoto govt to court over land acquisition

Aggrieved Sokoto communities have dragged BUA Cement and the Sokoto State Government to the state High Court over forceful acquisition of their settlements and farmlands in Wamakko Local Government Area of the state.

The leader of the aggrived Sokoto communities, Abubakar Kokani, said the communities include Runjin Biyo, Asare, Gidan Dan kaiwa, Kaura Kimba,Gidan Shibkau, and Maciya, among Others.

Kokani, who spoke through the communities’ counsel, Kasimu Sauwa, on Wednesday, said they were in court to challenge the first and second defendants over unconstitutional and forceful takeover of their lands to be used for commercial purposes.

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The counsel to the plaintiffs further said though the first dependant was in court, he told the presiding judge, Justice Kabiru Muhammad, that he was in court but did not prepare for any statement of defence and requested for adjournment of the case to another date so as to fully prepare for the defence of his client.

The counsel to the second dependant and the Sokoto State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Suleiman Usman (SAN), was not in court at the time when the presiding judge adjourned the case to October 11 for further mentioning.

Usman was however seen outside court when the matter was already adjourned for mentioning to another day, but refused to make any comment as the matter was already before the court.

The communities alleged that BUA Cement has taken possession of their lands resources which they used in subsistence farming all year round to feed their families.

Umar Adam

The Star