…Prays CCP to uphold Lower Courts’ Judgment in his favour.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
It was a dramatic scene at the Kaduna State Customary Court of Appeal (CCP), as a farmer, Luka Saidu, from Kachia Local Government Area of the state, appeared before the panel without a lawyer, to defend a protracted land dispute.
Saidu, who told the court he could not afford legal representation, prayed the appellate court to affirm the judgments of two lower customary courts that had earlier ruled in his favour.
“Since I cannot hire a lawyer, I will stand for myself,” the farmer told the three-man panel, urging the court to uphold the decisions delivered by the Customary Court in Sabon Sarki on February 15, 2022, and the Upper Customary Court in Gumel on May 26, 2026.
Earlier, during the session on Thursday in Kaduna, Counsel to the appellant asked the court to set aside the lower courts’ judgments, arguing that the initial decisions lacked merit.
After listening to both sides, the court adjourned the matter and fixed September 17, 2026, for further hearing.
The case centres on ownership and possession of a parcel of farmland located at Dangyolmi, in Kachia LGA.
In Suit No. CCSS/CV/13/2021, the Customary Court, Sabon Sarki, had ordered that possession of the disputed land be handed over to Luka Saidu.
The court directed Irimiya Hyet and Emmanuel Audu to surrender the land, describing its boundaries as: north by DanBauchi, south by Joseph Bahago, east by Irimiya Hyet and west by the road leading to Walizo from Dangnalma. It also ordered that a report of execution be filed immediately.
In a follow-up judgment, the Upper Customary Court sitting in Gumel, Kachia, in Suit No. UCC/KCH/64/CV/2025, reaffirmed the earlier verdict.
It ordered Aminu DanBauchi Gajere to surrender possession of the same land to Saidu. The property was described as lying in Dangyolmi, adjoining DanBauchi Gajere to the north, Joseph Bahago to the south, Irimiya Hyet to the east and a road to the west.
The court also directed that compliance be reported to it.
An eyewitness to the origin of the crisis, Francis Saidu, told journalists that trouble began when a resident approached Luka Saidu’s family to request for a portion of the land to build a house.
The request was declined because, according to him, the land was family property already under cultivation by Luka Saidu.
He alleged that although, the person later built on another nearby parcel, members of another family later laid claim to the disputed farmland, leading to litigation.
Francis said traditional authorities, including the Village Head and District Head, as well as the Divisional Police Officer in Kachia, had earlier attempted to mediate.
He added that Luka Saidu was once arrested and detained for a day over allegations of “criminal trespass” before the matter was transferred to the Customary Court.
According to him, the lower courts visited the disputed land, heard evidence from both parties and their witnesses, and ruled that the land belonged to Luka Saidu.
However, having been dissatisfied with the Lower Court’s verdict, the other parties filed an appeal, which is now before the Kaduna State Customary Court of Appeal.