Police Families Sue Sokoto Government Over Planned Demolition of Homes
Families of serving, retired police officers seek court protection as demolition threatens homes
Families of serving and retired police officers in Sokoto State have approached the Federal High Court in Sokoto to stop the state government from demolishing their homes, warning that the planned action could leave several households without shelter.
The families filed a suit against the Sokoto State Government following the demolition of one of the houses by a construction company engaged by the state government.
Speaking with journalists after the court session, counsel to the plaintiffs, Abdulrahman Muhammad Jariri, said his clients were asking the court to restrain the state government from proceeding with further demolitions.
He said the families were also seeking an order compelling the state government to rebuild the house that had already been demolished.
In its written response to the court, the Sokoto State Government requested an adjournment, stating that it was not ready to proceed with the hearing at the time.
Presiding Judge, Justice Mahmud Gama, granted the request, stressing the need to give all parties an opportunity to present their cases so that justice could be served. The matter was adjourned until October 28, 2026.
The affected families told the court that the houses were built by the Federal Government for serving and retired police officers and their dependants.
They expressed concern that the planned demolition could force many families out of their homes, with children and elderly members of the households likely to bear much of the hardship.
Beyond the court case, the families said they had also applied to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development for an opportunity to purchase the houses under the Federal Government’s monetisation policy.
For the families, the dispute is not simply about buildings or government property; it is about where they and their dependants will live if the demolition goes ahead.
The case has attracted attention in Sokoto metropolis, with residents awaiting the outcome of the court proceedings. The October 28 hearing is expected to provide the next opportunity for the parties to present their positions.
NASIR MALALI
