Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
Tension has mounted in Sokoto State as families of serving and retired police officers have approached the Federal High Court in Sokoto to stop the planned demolition of their homes by the state government.
The plaintiffs, who include dependants of serving and retired police personnel, are seeking judicial protection against further demolition, insisting that the disputed houses form part of a housing estate constructed by the Federal Government for members of the police community.
Their legal action followed the demolition of at least one of the houses by a construction company reportedly engaged by the Sokoto State Government, prompting the affected families to seek the intervention of the court to prevent further destruction.
Speaking with journalists after the court proceedings, counsel to the plaintiffs, Abdulrahman Muhammad Jariri, said his clients were asking the court to restrain the state government from carrying out further demolition and compel it to rebuild the house that had already been demolished.
“Our clients are asking the Federal High Court to stop the Sokoto State Government from demolishing their homes and to order the reconstruction of the house that has already been demolished,” Jariri said.
The families told the court that the affected properties were occupied by serving and retired police officers and their dependants, warning that the demolition of the houses could leave several households without shelter and expose children and elderly residents to severe hardship.
They further informed the court that they had applied to the Federal Minister of Housing and Urban Development for the purchase of the properties under the Federal Government’s monetisation policy.
The development has added a new dimension to the dispute, with the affected families seeking to resolve the ownership question through the federal housing monetisation framework while simultaneously asking the judiciary to halt any further demolition pending the determination of the matter.
In its response to the suit, the Sokoto State Government requested an adjournment, stating that it was not prepared to proceed with the hearing at the time it was scheduled.
Presiding Judge, Justice Mahmud Gama, granted the request, stressing that all parties must be accorded adequate opportunity to present their cases in the interest of justice and fair hearing.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until October 28, 2026, when further proceedings are expected to take place.
The case has attracted significant attention in Sokoto metropolis, particularly among residents concerned about the fate of the police families and the future of the disputed housing estate.
Beyond the immediate dispute, the case raises broader questions surrounding government development projects, public housing, property rights and the protection of families occupying federally developed residential estates.
As proceedings resume in October, the affected families are seeking judicial intervention to preserve their homes, while the state government’s position on the disputed properties is expected to be further canvassed before the court.
