By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
A Chief Magistrate Court, Kaduna has fixed May 31, 2023 to rule on whether or not it has the jurisdiction to entertain the case of alleged demolition of church building at Kaduna State University (KASU).
The case was instituted by Rev. John Joseph Hayab and Dr E. D. Monday against Mr Ismail Umaru Dikko and Mr Yusuf Abdullahi.
The matter came up yesterday for hearing for the complainants to present their case before the Court but an objection was raised to say that the defendants are public officers.
Counsel to the complainants, Barrister Gloria Mabeiam Ballason stated that the defendants were suit in their personal capacities and not as public officers.
After listening to the arguments of both parties, the Chief Magistrate, Stephen Hassan, fixed 31st May to rule on whether or not the court has the jurisdiction in the matter.
The complainants had approached the court that on the 6th June, 2022, at about 1:45pm, in the premises of the Kaduna State University main campus, Tafawa Balewa Way, Kaduna, a heavily armed security agents and operatives of a bulldozer, the defendants, without authorization and approval, demolished and defiled the only Church-in-building structure in the University premises and thereby committed the offence of failing a place of worship, contrary to section 179 of the Panel Code Laws of Kaduna state, 2017 and punishable under the same section.
According to complaints counsel, “That the officers of the complainants had mobilized for construction which was ongoing, but to their amazement, the 1st and 2nd defendants interfered with the progress by bringing in a bulldozer and armed security operatives to demolish the ongoing structure, intimidate, harass, assault and terrify the complainants and labourers and workers working on the building site and further destroyed evidence of their illegal actions.”
