Court orders Kano govt to pay N2.6bn over hospital demolition

A Kano State High Court has declared the revocation and demolition of a property belonging to Tiamin Multi Services Global Limited by the former administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje as illegal, awarding N2.6 billion in compensation to the company.

The property, located along Court Road in Gyadi Gyadi, Tarauni Local Government Area, was intended to house an ultra-modern hospital.

It was demolished despite construction being at an advanced stage. Tiamin took the matter to court, challenging the revocation and seeking damages.

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In his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Ibrahim Karaye held that the September 3, 2021 revocation notice issued by the Kano State Bureau for Land Management violated the Land Use Act, as it was carried out without prior notice or fair hearing.

He declared that the company’s Certificates of Occupancy covering the property—LKN/COM/2017/116 (recertified as LPKN 1188), MLKN01622, and MLKN01837—remain valid and subsisting.

The judge criticized the state for forcefully taking over and demolishing the multimillion-naira structure while the case was still in court.

Justice Karaye awarded N2.125 billion in special damages for development costs, N500 million in general damages for the illegal demolition, and N10 million for legal expenses.

He ordered the state government and its agents to vacate the land immediately and cease any further interference with Tiamin’s ownership and possession.

The ruling marks a significant legal victory for Tiamin and a stern rebuke of the previous administration’s actions regarding land governance.