Demolition Of Kaduna State University Chapel: Court Fixes Date For Ruling reporterspot.com May 14, 2023 1:02 PM A Chief Magistrate Court, in Kaduna has fixed May 31, 2023 to rule on whether or not it has the jurisdiction to entertain the case of the alleged demolition of the only church building at Kaduna State University (KASU). The case was instituted by Rev. John Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna chapter and Dr. Emmanuel Dangana Monday, a lecturer at the University against Mr. Ismail Umaru Dikko and Mr. Yusuf Abdullahi. The matter came up on Thursday, 11 May, 2023 for hearing and for the complainants to present their proofs in the case but a preliminary objection was filed by the law firm of Abdullahi Sani & Co, and the substantive State counsel, I.S. Lere Esq, sought to move the said application. Objecting, counsel to the Complainants, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason Esq, raised a counter stating that the Law Firm of Abdullahi Sani & Co, not being counsel in the matter could not file an application in the case. The Court struck out the filed application and directed the substantive State counsel to elect to make his application orally. Lere Esq submitted that the defendants, being public officers could not be sued in personal capacity as that would violate ‘Section 208 of the 1999 Constitution and section 2 (b) of the Public Officers Protection Law’. Counsel to the complainants, Ballason stated that the defendants were sued in their personal capacities and not as public officers and that Section 208 of the 1999 Constitution had no basis to the case as it is about appointment by a Governor simpliciter. Findings from newsmen reveals that the complainants had approached the court following the demolition on 6th June, 2022, of the only church structure in the premises of the Kaduna State University main campus, Tafawa Balewa Way, Kaduna. The demolition was done by the defendants with the protection of heavily armed security agents and operatives of a bulldozer. The demolition was not pursuant to a court order. The complainants’ contention is that the defendants, without authorization and approval, demolished and defiled the only Church building structure in the University premises and thereby committed the offences of defiling a place of worship, criminal trespass, criminal intimidation, assault and causing disappearance of evidence contrary to sections 130,179, 327, 333, 376, 377, 239 and 240 of the Penal Code Laws of Kaduna state, 2017. After listening to the arguments of both parties, the Chief Magistrate, Stephen Hassan, fixed 31st May to rule on whether or not the court has the jurisdiction in the matter. KADUNA POLITICAL AFFAIRS