The certification of ownership of the Durbar Hotel, believed to be owned by late Head of State General Sani Abacha, has been revoked by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State. This action was taken due to claims of the hotel owing ground rent for 19 years.
This decision was disclosed in a letter dated December 31, 2019, and addressed to Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, months after the dilapidated hotel was demolished by the Kaduna State administration.
The ownership of the hotel had been in contention between the Federal Government and the Abacha family since 2001. A Kaduna-based high court had issued an injunction restraining the governor and other state government agencies from demolishing and taking over the hotel.
The revocation letter, jointly signed on January 3rd, 2020, by Governor El-Rufai and Deed Registrar Yusuf Muawiyah of the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), cited violation of terms of grant, security and safety risk to the people of Kaduna State, as reasons for the revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy in line with section 28 of the Land Use Act, 2004.
While awaiting the Supreme Court’s judgment on the property’s ownership, Justice Hannatu Balogun of the State High Court restrained the Kaduna State Government from tampering with the property after the demolition. This action followed an ex parte motion filed by Reuben Atabo, counsel to Durbar hotel management and the Abacha family.