A High Court sitting in Kano has restrained the state government from constructing shops at the ‘highly-congested’ Kofar Wambai Market.
The market in the Municipal Local Government Area of the state had been engaged in a serious dispute between the marketers and the state government, who have been carrying out peaceful protests against the moves to construct new shops.
Justice Aisha Ya’u gave the order while hearing a suit filed by some of the traders against the government on Friday, December 24, 2021.
The order is pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit filed by the marketers against the government, which is adjourned to 2022 next year.
She directed that both parties should maintain the status quo on the disputed land.
Addressing the court, counsel to the traders, Sadiq Abbdullahi, alleged that the government had laid the foundation for the construction of shops in the disputed land.
The traders, represented by one, Ibrahim Yakasai, had approached the court on December 22 to stop the government’s plan in the construction of more shops in the congested market.
“An order is granted that parties shall stop all action on disputed land and maintain status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.
“The matter is adjourned to 24/01/2022,” the court order read in parts.
Traders protested on Wednesday morning against the construction of more shops by the Kano State Government.
The protesters, who converged at the Sani Buhari line of the market, defied multiple gunshots by security officials who shot into the air to disperse them.
