A STATE High Court has ordered the Gombe State Government and three other defendants to vacate a disputed parcel of land along the Gombe–Bajoga Road after declaring Emir General Integrated Ltd the lawful owner of the property.
News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Daurabo Suleiman Sikkam, in a judgment delivered in Suit No. GM/116/2026, upheld the validity of the company’s Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) No. GM/15926 and awarded ₦65 million in damages for the unlawful trespass, demolition of structures and subsequent occupation of the land.
The defendants in the suit are Grandscope Construction Ltd, the Gombe State Government, the Attorney General of Gombe State, and the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport.
The disputed property, measuring 1.30 hectares, is situated along the Gombe–Bajoga Road, adjacent to the office of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Gombe Local Government Area.
In his ruling, Justice Sikkam held that the state government acted unlawfully by awarding contracts on the land without first revoking the plaintiff’s title in accordance with the law or paying compensation.
The court affirmed that the plaintiff’s Certificate of Occupancy remains valid, subsisting and enforceable.
Consequently, the judge issued a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, servants and privies from further interfering with the company’s ownership and possession of the property.
He further directed the defendants to vacate the land and remove all structures and installations erected on it.
The court awarded ₦15 million as special damages and ₦50 million as general damages, bringing the total compensation to ₦65 million.
In addition, Justice Sikkam awarded ₦7,200 as the cost of the suit and ordered that the judgment sum would attract an annual interest rate of 10 per cent until it is fully paid.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Sulaiman Abdurrahim, described the verdict as “a victory for justice and due process,” arguing that the state government failed to comply with the provisions of the Land Use Act before taking possession of the property.
“The Land Use Act is clear that where a valid Certificate of Occupancy exists, government must lawfully revoke the title, notify the owner and pay adequate compensation before acquiring such land for public purposes,” he said.
Abdurrahim further alleged that despite two earlier court orders restraining further work on the property, the government proceeded with development on the site.
“Our client has a valid Certificate of Occupancy, yet the government neither followed due process nor complied with the court’s restraining orders,” the lawyer added.
He called on Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to comply with the judgment by paying the compensation awarded by the court and relinquishing possession of the land in line with the ruling.
Counsel representing Grandscope Construction Ltd, the Gombe State Government, the Attorney General of Gombe State and the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport were absent when the judgment was delivered.