Kano High Court refutes allegations of unlawful property auction
A Kano State High Court has debunked allegations by one Surajo Isa Yarima, accusing the court of unlawfully auctioning his property and leaving his family homeless.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the court’s Head of Public Relations, Baba Jibo Ibrahim, described the claims as false and an attempt to tarnish the court’s reputation.
SolaceBase gathered that the controversy began after a Small Claims Magistrate Court ruled against Yarima in December 2023, ordering him to pay N355,000 to a plaintiff.
When he failed to comply, the judgment creditor sought to recover the debt by attaching Yarima’s movable properties, which proved insufficient.
The creditor then applied for the attachment and auction of his immovable property, a process the High Court approved after ensuring due process was followed.
“All actions taken by the court in this matter were in accordance with the law and principles of justice,” Baba Jibo said in the statement.
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He noted that Yarima was served hearing notices and given ample opportunity to appear and challenge the application but failed to do so.
Yarima’s claim that his property was sold hastily and left his family homeless was also refuted.
“Investigations revealed that the property was rented out to a tenant at the time of the sale, and his family was never evicted. The only item found in the house after the auction was a single mattress,” the statement added.
The court also addressed claims by Yarima’s wife, who filed a petition claiming ownership of the property. Her case was dismissed after the court found that the sale agreements she presented did not relate to the auctioned property.
According to the statement, the Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Aboki launched an internal investigation into the matter, extending it to the property’s location and surrounding neighbourhood.
“Our findings unequivocally disproved the allegations. Yarima and his family resided in a neighbouring house, and after the auction, he sold that house and renovated the auctioned property to deceive the public,” It stated stated.
The court warned that making false claims against public institutions is punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code.
“It is disheartening that the judiciary, in the lawful execution of its duties, it is subjected to such baseless attacks. We will not hesitate to take legal action where necessary,” the statement threatened.
The statement also called on media organizations to verify information before publication to avoid misleading the public and damaging the reputation of public institutions.
‘’Such inaccurate reporting can damage reputations and disrupt the sanctity of institutions such as the High Court which play a vital role in preserving and administering justice in the society. The Public Relations office of the Kano State Judiciary remains open to any clarification to ensure accurate dissemination of information and true representation of facts in any matter relating to the Judiciary.’’
The High Court reaffirmed its commitment to justice and transparency in all its dealings.
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