The Sokoto State Government has sealed an African Democratic Congress (ADC) campaign office on Ahmadu Bello Way in Sokoto metropolis.
Aminu Abdullahi, media aide to the ADC governorship candidate, told Channels Television that the state Commissioner for Land and Housing, Nasiru Dantsoho, visited the building with a letter asking occupants to identify its legal owner.
The campaign office is located in the former Savannah Bank building, which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) previously used as its state office.
Abdullahi said the letter sought to establish who occupied the property. He added that the state government maintained that the building belonged to the defunct Savannah Bank, which had been liquidated, and that its current occupants were there illegally.
Earlier reports said Dantsoho had directed the building’s closure on Monday to protect lives and property following an alleged disturbance involving party supporters and some miscreants.
Dantsoho said the government had reviewed documents relating to the property and found that it was originally owned by the defunct Savannah Bank, with no official change of ownership recorded.
He said the government had written to the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), which he described as the property’s custodian, seeking clarification about its current ownership but had yet to receive a response.
“Following a review of the certificate of occupancy and other relevant documents, we discovered that this property belongs to 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.
Dantsoho said the government had sealed the premises pending the NDIC’s response, adding that the measure was intended to prevent further disturbances and protect lives and property.
He urged anyone claiming ownership to present relevant documents for verification and registration, after which the property could be released to its rightful owner.
However, Dantsoho said the property would remain under state control until the ownership issue was resolved.
He warned that anyone attempting to force entry into the sealed premises would face legal action, including prosecution.
