Some Kano-based legal practitioners have dragged the state government before the state’s High Court over purported plans to auction Sharia court buildings in the state.

The plaintiffs -Sanusi Umar, Usman Imam and Bello Basi- are seeking the court’s leave to restrain the state government from taking any further step on the buildings and premises of the courts.

The affected courts include, the Upper Sharia Court Gidan Maitasine, Yan Awaki, Upper Sharia Court Yan Alluna, Upper Sharia Court Shahuci, and Upper Shari’a Court Goron Dutse.

Others are Upper Shari’a Court Kasuwar Kurmi, and Upper Sharia Court  Filin Hockey.

Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner for Justice, Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, says there is no plan by the Kano government to sell some Sharia Courts in the state.

Mr Abdullahi-Lawan, who doubles as the  Chairman, Technical Committee on Conversion and Redevelopment of Some Kano State Owned Properties, made this known in Kano on Wednesday.

“The claims of the plaintiffs are fake, unfounded and political as well as misrepresentation of facts.

“The state government has no plans to relocate Upper Shari’a Court Goron Dutse and Upper Shari’a Court Filin Hockey, Hausawa.

“The state government’s decision to relocate the Yan Awaki Upper Shari’a Court, is due to the fact that  the court building was taken over by the Kofar Wambai Motor Park and Market.

“The court is not supposed to be located where there is distraction as well as car horn noise or any other thing that will distract the attention of a judge, court officials and litigants.

“A court needs serene environment to avoid miscarriage of justice. The Yan Awaki Court has been relocated to the BUK New site Road, where a whole Shari’a Court Division that include, Shari’a Court, Upper Shari’a Court and Shari’a Court of Appeal to be completed by the end of September 2022,” he said.

Mr Abdullahi-Lawan noted that the Upper Shari’a court Kurmi Market and Yan’alluna have also been taken over by marketers, adding that hawkers roam around the premises of the court.

“Yan’alluna court we received series of complaints from lawyers, litigants that the court has no parking space, the remaining parking space in the court premises has been taken over by marketers,” he said.

He said the state government will utilise the space of Shahuci Upper Shari’a court to build a new court for Kurmi Market and Yan Alluna courts in a single Complex.

“Considering the dilapidated nature of Shahuci Upper Shari’a court, in addition to flooding during the rainy season made the government to include the court in the project.

“The building of the seven court and renovation of Yankaba Upper Shari’a court will provide a serene and enabling working environment for judiciary staff in the state,” Mr Abdullahi-Lawan said.

(NAN)