Recently, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a garnishee order, effectively freezing 24 bank accounts associated with the Kano State Government.

This legal action stems from a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Masalachi Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association, seeking redress for their shops' perceived illegitimate and unjust demolition.

Presiding over the case, Justice I. E. Ekwo delivered the ruling on November 28, 2023, confirming the attachment of funds amounting to N30 billion. The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling, signed by Registrar Chioma Chijioke, highlights the court's intent to satisfy the judgment favouring the shop owners in response to the alleged unlawful demolition carried out by the state in June 2023.

In the court order, Justice Ekwo explicitly stated, "A garnishee order Nisi is at this moment made attaching the funds (present and future) of Kano State Government, Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA), and the Attorney General of Kano State to the tune of N30 billion in satisfaction of the judgment."

Furthermore, the court has mandated the garnishees to appear before it and present any justifiable reasons against the order of Nisi becoming absolute. The judge specified that the judgment creditors must serve the defendants and garnishees at least 14 days before the next hearing, scheduled for January 18, 2024.

This ruling follows a prior judgment by the Federal High Court in Kano, where the shop owners were awarded N30 billion as compensation for the demolition of their shops. The affected accounts, encompassing 24 banks, are now subject to the freezing order.