Sokoto Government Seals ADC Office Over Ownership Dispute
The Sokoto State Government has sealed an office belonging to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over questions surrounding the ownership of the property and concerns about public safety.
The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Nasiru Dantsoho, announced the action on Monday, saying it followed a disturbance involving party supporters and suspected miscreants.
Dantsoho said the government reviewed documents relating to the building and discovered that it was originally owned by the defunct Savannah Bank, with no official record indicating a change of ownership.
Read also: Sokoto Youths Decry Rising Insecurity, Warn of Self-Defence Move
He disclosed that the state government had written to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), which he described as the custodian of the property, to clarify its current ownership but had yet to receive a response.
“Following a review of the certificate of occupancy and other relevant documents, we discovered that this property belongs to the Savannah Bank, and that ownership has not changed as of today,” he said.
The commissioner explained that the premises would remain sealed pending the NDIC’s response, adding that the measure was intended to prevent further disturbances and protect lives and property.
He urged anyone claiming ownership of the building to submit relevant documents for verification and proper documentation before the property could be released to its rightful owner.
Read also: Armoured Vehicles Reduce Attacks in Sokoto Community
Dantsoho, however, maintained that the state government would retain control of the premises until the ownership dispute was resolved.
He warned that anyone attempting to forcefully access the sealed property would face legal action, including prosecution.
The development comes amid rising political tension in Sokoto following allegations of attacks involving ADC supporters and operatives of a state-owned security outfit.
