Owners of the demolished shopping complex at Eid prayer ground in Kano State have instituted criminal conspiracy and misappropriation complaints over the death of about 30 occupants of the destroyed shops.
The traders, under the auspices of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association, lamented that beyond the civil litigation instituted against the state government, the association considered the criminal complaint to seek redress against psychological trauma the members suffered during the demolition.
They had conceded out-of-court settlement on the N30 billion fine suit granted in their favour against the Kano government, with both parties finally agreeing on N3 billion compensation on three instalments.
conference in Kano, counsel to the shop-owners, Ma’aruf Yakassai, said the act of forceful eviction and maltreatment is contrary to Section 97, 286, 308 and 326 of the Penal Code of Kano State.
Although Yakassai confirmed that the government has fulfilled the first N1 billion to the traders, he said the shop-owners are compelled to seek thorough investigation against violation of property and humanity.
In a petition addressed to the Kano Commissioner of Police, the traders said: “We know as a fact that the government has power to revoke any right of occupancy, but only for overriding public interest. Also, a sufficient notice must be served, and compensation paid before the revocation.
Yakassai noted: “Without any notice or opportunity for our members to park their goods and other movable properties, with no iota of sympathy, demolished the structures/shops in the area. Selfish individuals with criminal minds were also encouraged by the government to loot our properties as the demolishing was ongoing.
“As a result of these our members rendered helpless, poor, and jobless without any justification whatsoever.”
Many traders lost their lives, some are now patients with different sicknesses, including the killer ‘stroke’. The victims’ orphans and children are left with no parental care and attention, many are rendered homeless, poor or with no education and medical care because breadwinners are either dead or have lost their means of livelihood.”
The complainants appealed to Kano police command to investigate the criminal complaints against some personalities allegedly involved in the demolition and torture of shop-owners with a bid to institute criminal litigation against them.
