Sokoto Govt Seals Off ADC Campaign Office — Aide

Sokoto State Government has sealed off a campaign office belonging to the African Democratic Congress along Ahmadu Bello Way in Sokoto metropolis.

Media Aide to the Governorship candidate of the ADC, Aminu Abdullahi, confirmed to Channels Television that the state Commissioner for Land and Housing, Nasiru Dantsoho, came with a letter to the occupants of the building demanding to know the real occupant of the building.

The ADC campaign office was the building of the defunct Savanna Bank, where the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) once used as its party office in the state.

According to Abdullahi, the letter of the commissioner sought to know who the real occupant is, explaining that the state government maintained that they know the property belongs to Savanna Bank, which has since been liquidated, and that any occupant of the building is an illegal occupant.

Earlier reports had noted that the development was allegedly directed by Dantsoho, who explained that the sealing of the building on Monday was to protect lives and property following an alleged disturbance involving supporters of the party and some miscreants.

Dantsoho alleged that the government reviewed the available documents relating to the property and discovered that it was originally owned by the defunct Savannah Bank, with no official change of ownership reflected in the records.

He said the government had written to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), which he described as the custodian of the property, seeking clarification on its current ownership but was yet to receive a response.

“Following a review of the certificate of occupancy and other relevant documents, we discovered that this property belongs to the Savannah Bank, and that ownership has not changed as of today.

“We have written to the NDIC, the custodian of this building, to clarify its present ownership, but we are yet to receive a response,” he said.

The commissioner said the government decided to seal off the premises pending the NDIC’s response, stressing that the measure was necessary to prevent further disturbances and safeguard lives and property.

He appealed to anyone claiming ownership of the building to present relevant documents to the government for verification and proper documentation, after which the property could be released to its rightful owner.

Dantsoho, however, maintained that the property would remain under the control of the state government until the ownership issue was resolved.

He warned that anyone who attempted to forcefully gain access to the sealed premises would face appropriate legal action, including prosecution.