Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has restored ownership of two properties previously revoked from the family of the late military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, during the administration of his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai. The properties, located at No. 9 Abakpa GRA and No. 1 Degel Road, Ungwan Rimi GRA, in Kaduna, had been seized in 2022 over allegations of violations of the Land Use Act’s occupancy terms.
Abacha family lawyer, Reuben Atabo (SAN), confirmed the reinstatement on Tuesday, calling it a significant development. The revocation, widely publicized in newspapers on April 28, 2022, listed the late Gen. Abacha as item 34 among those affected. Atabo noted that the move caused “embarrassment” to the Abacha family, prompting legal action against the state government.
Governor Sani reversed the revocation through two separate letters dated December 10, 2024, issued by the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS). Both letters, signed by Mustapha Haruna on behalf of the Director General of KADGIS, instructed the Abacha family to settle outstanding fees and charges before the reinstatement could be finalized.
One of the letters reads: “His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State, has in the powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act 1978, reinstated the aforementioned title… Subject to strict condition of settling all outstanding fees and charges.”
The Abacha family, through Atabo, welcomed the decision, describing it as a gesture of fairness and justice.
The reinstatement marks a shift from El-Rufai’s administration, which had cited “various contraventions” as the basis for revoking the properties.
