By Nasiru Malali
A construction firm, All Pro Developers Limited, engaged by the Sokoto State Government, has sued nine police officers over alleged illegal occupation of government quarters in Sokoto metropolis.
The case was filed before the Sokoto State Tribunal, seeking an order directing the occupants to vacate the premises located along Kontagora Road.
According to court documents, the plaintiff, through its counsel, Mr Erabor Ogiza, said the firm was duly engaged by the Sokoto State Government to develop the premises.
The defendants are Commissioner of Police Abdulrazak Gulma, Umar Bala-Bungudu, Nasir Lawal, Abubakar Musa, Abdullahi Mukhtar, Ibrahim Bawa, Sani Chika, Murtala Aliyu and Usman Sani-Wamakko.
The plaintiff alleged that the defendants were occupying the premises illegally, as they had no allocation letters, tenancy agreements, legal ownership rights or other correspondence authorising their occupation.
During the hearing, Mr Ogiza told the tribunal that all the defendants had been duly served with the court processes.
He, however, noted that the Commissioner of Police was neither present in court nor represented by counsel.
The counsel also informed the tribunal that he had just been served with a counter-affidavit and preliminary objection filed by the defendants.
He therefore sought an adjournment to enable him to study the documents and respond appropriately.
Lead defence counsel, Mr Nasiru Shehu-Na’ige, did not oppose the application, saying the defence was ready to proceed with the case.
After hearing the submissions, the Tribunal Judge, Mr Jafar Aliyu-Dangere, adjourned the case to September 22 for continuation of hearing.
Meanwhile, families of police officers residing in the quarters staged a protest on September 6, calling on the Federal Government, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Rilwan Tunde Disu, and other relevant authorities to intervene.
The protest followed an alleged attempt by All Pro Developers Limited to demolish the police quarters occupied by the officers.
The protesters, comprising wives and children of police officers, carried placards and appealed to the authorities to protect their homes.
They recalled that some of their husbands had died in active service, while those still serving should not, in their view, be subjected to such treatment.
Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
