Proceedings commenced on Wednesday 15 January, 2026 at High Court of Justice Dogarawa Zaria, Kaduna State, presided over by Just...
Proceedings commenced on Wednesday 15 January, 2026 at High Court of Justice Dogarawa Zaria, Kaduna State, presided over by Justice Yakubu Badamasi in a criminal case involving Abdu Kwari, Hajiya Amina Dalhatu Akilu, and Shehu Abdu Kwari, over allegations of fraud and criminal conspiracy arising from a disputed land and building exchange transaction in Zaria.
The case was instituted following a criminal complaint filed by a Zaria-based businessman, Ahmed Muhammad Gusau, who alleged that the defendants fraudulently induced him into exchanging his residential property at No. 17 Sale Annur Street, Kabama Layout, Sabon Gari, Zaria—valued at ₦60 million—for a plot of land at No. 5 Abubakar Mustapha Road, Kabama Layout, allegedly owned by Senator Abdu Kwari and valued at ₦20 million.
According to the complainant, the agreement was reached after he was informed that the Senator does not sell land but only exchanges property. He said he accepted the arrangement due to his interest in the location and commenced construction after the Deed of Assignment was executed in the name of the Senator’s wife. However, he alleged that after investing over ₦27.6 million in construction, officials of KASUPDA allegedly halted the project on the directive of the Senator, after which the defendants reportedly denied the existence of the agreement.
At Thursday’s sitting, counsel to the second defendant, AY Muhammed, moved an application requesting the court to order the release of vehicles earlier seized in connection with the matter. He argued that the vehicles do not belong to the first defendant but are assets of A.A. Kwari Company, and are used by the second defendant, Shehu Abdu Kwari, strictly for business and commercial purposes.
Muhammed the court that the continued detention of the vehicles was causing serious disruption to the company’s operations and financial hardship, stressing that the vehicles were neither proceeds of crime nor directly linked to the alleged offence before the court.
However, counsel to the complainant, SY Suleiman, strongly opposed the application. He argued that the release of the vehicles at this stage would be premature, insisting that there are laid-down legal procedures and statutory requirements for the release of seized exhibits, which, according to him, had not been complied with by the defence.
SY Suleiman further contended that the second defendant has clear links with the first defendant, adding that the vehicles form part of the exhibits connected to the case. He urged the court to retain custody of the vehicles pending the determination of the substantive charges.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Yakubu Badamasi adjourned the matter to 31st March, 2026, for ruling on the application seeking the release of the vehicles.
The court is expected to proceed with the hearing of the substantive charges of alleged fraud and criminal conspiracy thereafter.
No comments