A Federal High Court sitting in Minna in Niger State headed by Justice Mariyam Ismaila has granted an injunction stopping the Niger state government from demolishing Ashrab Energy International Limited, a filling station located in the heart of the state.
The Niger state government had on May 30, 2023, marked Ashrab located at Keteren-Gwari in Minna, Niger state, with occupancy Nos. NGS/913 and NGS/8821 for demolition.
This came after the governor of Niger State was sworn in on May 29, 2023.
According to the court order dated June 14, 2023, marked NSHC/MN/147/2023, forwarded to journalists in Abuja, the governor of Niger State, the Attorney general of the state, the Niger state ministry of Land and Housing, and the Niger state urban development board have been asked to steer clear of any action regarding the parcel of Ashrab Iand.
The court also directed that the permit issued to the company on October 28, 2021, by the Niger state urban development board should not be withdrawn, and that nobody should interfere with or stop the company from carrying out its legitimate business.
The injunction also stated that the governor of Niger State and his agents have no constitutional rights to demolish or revoke the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) of Ashrab without establishing proof for the action.
The order stated, “An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant or any of his agents, assigns, and or privies from interfering with the plaintiff’s constitutional rights to own the parcel of Land and all the improvements thereon, situate at Keteren -Gwari, Minna, Niger state.
“The certificate of occupancy covered by a certificate of occupancy Nos. NGS/913 and NGS/8821 pending the determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim restraining the 4th defendant from withdrawing the development permit issue to the plaintiff (Ashrab Energy International limited) on 28th October 2021 pending the determination of the motion”.
