Property Dispute: Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Rima Authority Face Off Over Bakalori Estate

The long-running dispute over the ownership and occupation of the Colony Residential Complex, popularly known as Bakalori Estate, in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, is set for another legal development today as the court takes up the case involving Abdu Gusau Polytechnic and occupants of the disputed residential area.

The controversy, which has continued since 2025, centres on competing claims over the ownership and control of houses within the estate, with the management of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic seeking the removal of some occupants.

The development has also assumed a political dimension, with some residents and community members alleging that individuals associated with the All Progressives Congress (APC), including supporters linked to former Zamfara Governor Abdul’aziz Yari and former Governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, have been particularly affected by the eviction moves.

Among those previously issued eviction notices were Dr Lawal Umar Maradun, Malam Jamilu Hassan and Malam Abdulhakim Yusuf.

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The dispute has, however, gone beyond the identities of the affected residents, with the central question now being who legally owns the estate and which authority has the right to allocate, revoke or recover possession of the houses.

The Bakalori Estate Community Association (BECA) had earlier challenged the Polytechnic’s action, describing the eviction notices as unilateral and contrary to the arrangement governing the management of the residential complex.

In a protest letter dated September 22, 2025, addressed to the Registrar of Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, the Association argued that the institution could not independently revoke allocations or eject occupants without the involvement of the relevant joint committee established between the Polytechnic and the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA).

BECA’s Secretary, T/Wada Samaila Abubakar, who signed the letter, cited Article 16 of the joint RIMA/POLY committee guidelines, which, according to the Association, places the responsibility for allocation and revocation of houses under the joint committee.

The Association also alleged selective enforcement, arguing that some of the affected residents had complied with their rent obligations while other occupants who allegedly defaulted were not subjected to similar action.

The ownership question has further complicated the dispute.

Abdu Gusau Polytechnic has reportedly maintained that the SRRBDA relinquished possession of the estate through a communication to the court, a position which would strengthen the institution’s claim over the property.

The position has been disputed by a source within the River Basin Authority, who insisted that no such letter relinquishing ownership or possession was issued.

The source further maintained that the Authority remains the legal owner of the Colony Estate, citing documentary records from the administration of former Governor Abdul’aziz Yari which, according to the source, showed that the property was returned to the Rima Authority after a complete refund relating to an earlier transaction between the Authority and the Zamfara State Government.

The competing claims have therefore placed the court at the centre of a dispute involving not only the fate of the affected residents but also the legal status of the estate itself.

The matter has attracted further attention because of allegations that political affiliations may be influencing the eviction process. Residents and other stakeholders have described the development as an alleged attempt to target individuals perceived to be sympathetic to particular APC political camps.

Those allegations, however, remain contested and have not been established by the court.

With the case now coming up for hearing, attention is expected to focus on the documentary evidence surrounding ownership of the estate, the authority of the Polytechnic to seek possession, the validity of the existing RIMA/POLY arrangements and the legal status of the affected occupants.

For residents of the Colony Estate, the court proceedings represent a critical stage in a dispute that has moved from administrative disagreement to a full legal battle.

The outcome of the proceedings could ultimately determine not only whether the affected residents remain in their homes but also which institution has the lawful authority to control and administer the disputed residential complex.