The Kano State Government has expressed concern over what it described as the increasing misuse of court orders to lay claim to public properties, warning that the trend could undermine justice delivery, threaten social stability, and erode public trust in the judicial system.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State raised the alarm on Friday at the 2026 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ungogo Branch, where he was represented by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude (SAN).
The governor, according to a statement from the event, cautioned that individuals and groups were increasingly obtaining judicial orders to assert ownership over critical public facilities, including schools, hospitals, graveyards, and other community assets long used in the public interest.
He warned that such developments, if left unchecked, could distort the true essence of justice.
“When judicial decisions of such magnitude promote private interests at the expense of societal well-being, the true sense of justice is undermined,” he said.
Yusuf further expressed concern that in some instances, litigants secure restraining orders within short periods, effectively restricting communities from accessing essential facilities that have served generations.
While reaffirming respect for the judiciary, the governor stressed that the alleged trend poses a serious threat to governance and public order, particularly where court processes are reportedly being used to disrupt long-standing communal use of public assets.
He also linked the issue to broader governance and security challenges, noting that insecurity in northern Nigeria remains complex and influenced by social and economic pressures.
Speaking on the theme of the Law Week, “The Role of Law and Technology in Addressing Insecurity in Contemporary Nigeria,” the governor argued that modern security challenges require a blend of strong legal frameworks and technological innovation.
According to him, security should not be viewed solely as the absence of crime, but as a product of justice, institutional trust, and efficient governance systems.
He added that even with the presence of security agencies, a society could still experience insecurity if citizens lack confidence in the justice system or face delays in accessing legal remedies.
Yusuf also highlighted ongoing reforms by the state government aimed at strengthening the justice and security architecture of Kano State.
These, he said, include the recruitment of more than 70 state counsel to address manpower shortages, digitalisation of operations within the Ministry of Justice, and deployment of modern ICT infrastructure to improve efficiency and reduce case backlogs.
He further disclosed that the administration has undertaken renovation and construction of court facilities across the state, alongside welfare improvements for judicial officers, as part of efforts to strengthen the administration of justice.
The governor commended the Nigerian Bar Association Nigerian Bar Association for its role in promoting the rule of law, describing its partnership with the state government as crucial to governance and institutional development.
Yusuf, however, maintained that addressing insecurity must go beyond enforcement, insisting that root causes such as poverty, unemployment, and social dislocation must also be tackled to achieve lasting stability.
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