KANO PROPERTY CRISIS: Lawyers drag ACP Babagana Bukar to IGP over alleged N50m vandalism, court disobedience
A senior police officer attached to the Zone One Headquarters in Kano, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Babagana Bukar, has been dragged before the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over alleged abuse of power, illegal arrest, and blatant disregard for multiple subsisting court orders.
The law firm of Bashir Yusuf Tudunwuzirchi & Associates (Yusuf Maigoro Chambers), acting on behalf of property owners Mr. Alkasim Musa and Mahaboob Mohammed Radman, submitted a fiery petition to the IGP, dated July 22, 2026, demanding immediate investigation and disciplinary proceedings against the officer.
A trail of flouted injunctions
The dispute centers on a prime property located at No. 17 Bashir Magashi Street/Road, UDB Quarters, Kano (also identified in related court documents as Plot No. 337, Hotoro GRA, Kano State).
According to the petition signed by Bashir Yusuf Muhammad, Esq., the Kano State High Court (Suit No. K/1211/2025) first issued an interim injunction on December 29, 2025, restraining all respondents from interfering with the property and ordering the maintenance of status quo.
When threats of arrest persisted despite the state court’s order, the property owners sought further relief at the Federal High Court, Kano Division.
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On July 20, 2026, Hon. Justice S. A. Amobeda issued comprehensive interim injunctive orders under Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/350/2026, explicitly restraining the Nigeria Police Force, AIG Zone One, and ACP Babagana Bukar from harassing or arresting the applicants or taking away their personal properties, demolishing or tampering with any structures, building fittings, or assets on the site, failing to return household items, tiles, transformers, and fittings previously removed from the premises.
N50m vandalism & alleged boasts of impunity
Despite being formally served with these clear judicial orders, ACP Bukar allegedly led armed police officers to invade the property on a Saturday—without court bailiffs, execution warrants, or a writ of possession.
The law firm revealed that during the raid, police officers allegedly supervised and facilitated the destruction and looting of household properties, fittings, and valuables estimated at N50,000,000.00.
Strikingly, the petition claims ACP Bukar ignored direct legal warnings from counsel within the Police Legal Department who advised him against violating court directives during the operation.
The petition further noted:
“ACP Babagana Bukar openly boasted that even if a petition was submitted against him to the Inspector-General of Police, the IGP would merely request his comments… and that would be the end of the matter without any meaningful disciplinary action.”
Caretaker detained, coerced into ‘false statement’
Adding to the controversy, the caretaker of the building, Mr. Alkasim Musa—a co-applicant in the ongoing Federal High Court suit—was subsequently arrested and held in police custody for a day.
The lawyers alleged that Musa was subjected to severe pressure to sign a false confession claiming he personally removed the missing N50 million worth of property from the site.
Law Firm Asks IGP to Act
To preserve the integrity of the force, the legal team urged the IGP to immediately order an impartial probe into ACP Babagana Bukar’s conduct; investigate the looted N50 million property and the unlawful detention of Mr. Alkasim Musa; commence formal disciplinary action against ACP Bukar; and enforce full compliance with all active court injunctions.
The petition was officially copied to the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Minister of Police Affairs, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Zone One, Kano), and the Senate Committee on Police.
Efforts by OnlineNews.ng to obtain comments from ACP Babagana Bukar or the Police Public Relations Officer for Zone One, Kano, were unsuccessful prior to publication.
