By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe

The Gombe State Government is facing questions over activities at the Mechanics Village in Gombe following claims that portions of a disputed 1.30-hectare property were allocated to mechanics after a State High Court ordered the evacuation of structures from the land.

The development has raised questions about the status of subsequent allocations and construction activities on the property, following a judgment in which the court recognised Emir General Integrated Limited as the lawful owner of the land and upheld its Certificate of Occupancy.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Daurabo S. Sikkam of High Court No. 9, Gombe, in Suit No. GM/116/2026, involving Emir General Integrated Limited as claimant and Grandscope Construction Limited, the Gombe State Government, the Attorney-General of Gombe State and the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport as defendants.

According to the judgment, the property is located along the Gombe-Bajoga Road, adjacent to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) office in Gombe Local Government Area.

Justice Sikkam upheld the validity of Certificate of Occupancy No. GM/15926 belonging to Emir General Integrated Limited.

The court also held that the state government’s award of a contract to Grandscope Construction Limited to work on or erect structures on the claimant’s property, as well as the demolition of structures belonging to the company and subsequent construction activities, were unlawful.

The court consequently granted a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, servants and representatives from further interfering with the claimant’s possession of the property.

The defendants were also ordered to vacate the property and remove structures and other items placed on the land.

The court awarded N15 million as special damages and N50 million as general damages, bringing the total damages to N65 million, in addition to N7,200 as costs of the action.

The judgment also provided for 10 per cent annual interest on the judgment sums until full liquidation.

Allocation controversy

The latest issue centres on claims that portions of the property were subsequently allocated to mechanics through the Gombe State Ministry of Trade and Industry.

If confirmed, the development could raise questions about the status of such allocations in view of the existing court judgment and its orders concerning the property.

The allegation is also significant because the judgment not only dealt with ownership but restrained further interference with the claimant’s possession and directed the removal of structures and other items from the land.

Our correspondent contacted the Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Alhaji Nasiru Muhammad, for the government’s position on the matter.

The commissioner declined to comment and referred our correspondent to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Zubairu Umar.

Umar also declined to comment on the substance of the matter, explaining that he was not serving as Commissioner for Justice when the judgment was delivered and was then acting as counsel to the state government.

He referred the correspondent to the Ministry of Justice and counsel representing the government.

State counsel: Settlement remains possible

When contacted, Barrister Musa Adamu Kumo, counsel representing the Gombe State Government, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Works, declined to comment on the substance of the claims.

He, however, confirmed that the possibility of an out-of-court settlement between the state government and Emir General Integrated Limited remained open.

Grandscope: Projects handed over to govt

Our correspondent also sought the reaction of Tanko Ishaqa Gwamna, a director of Grandscope Construction Company, concerning the court’s findings on the construction activities carried out on the property.

Gwamna declined to comment on the substance of the judgment and referred the matter to the company’s counsel, Barrister Daniel Tsaro.

He, however, said the company had handed over the projects to the Gombe State Government.

Tsaro was subsequently contacted and requested that the matter be discussed later. He had not provided a further response as of the time of filing this report.

Plaintiff seeks compliance

Counsel to Emir General Integrated Limited, Barrister Sulaiman Abdurraheem, called on the Gombe State Government to comply with the judgment.

He urged the government to pay the N65 million damages awarded by the court and remove the structures covered by the judgment from the property.

Abdurraheem also said that where government intends to acquire land covered by a valid Certificate of Occupancy for public purposes, the appropriate legal procedures should be followed, including lawful revocation of the title and payment of applicable compensation.

He further said government development activities had continued on the property despite two earlier court orders restraining further work.

Lawyers seek implementation

Reacting to the development, Gombe-based lawyer and public affairs commentator, Barrister M.A. Inuwa, said parties affected by a valid court judgment are expected to comply with its terms.

Inuwa said actions inconsistent with court orders could have legal consequences, stressing the need for the judgment to be properly executed.

According to him, the immediate issue is the implementation of the orders contained in the judgment.

Similarly, a judicial analyst, Auwal Isa, said the case underscored the importance of property rights and legally recognised titles.

Isa said the judgment highlighted the need for valid Certificates of Occupancy and court orders to be respected in disputes involving private property and government development.

What remains unclear

Questions remain over whether any allocation was made on the property after the judgment and, if so, the legal basis for such allocation.

It is also unclear whether an appeal, stay of execution or any other legal process has been filed in relation to the judgment and, if so, its current status.

The legal position of any proposed settlement and how it may affect the existing court orders also remains a matter for the parties and their legal representatives.

As of the time of filing this report, the Gombe State Government and Grandscope Construction Limited had not provided substantive responses to the specific claim concerning post-judgment allocation.

Counsel to the state government, however, confirmed that discussions towards a possible amicable settlement between the parties remained open.