Niger Commissioner for Lands Appears in Court to Strengthen State’s Legal Efforts
By : Yahaya Zakka Minna.
The Niger State Commissioner for Land and Survey, Barrister Maurice Magaji, appeared today at High Court No. 2 before Justice Mikailu to represent the state government in a case concerning land acquisition.
The case was filed by eight individuals from the Gurara community against the Niger State Governor, who is the first defendant, and the Commissioner of Land, who is the second defendant.
In an interview with a court reporter immediately after the case was mentioned, Magaji explained that his presence in court was motivated by the shortage of lawyers available to handle cases for the ministry.
He emphasized that his appearance aims to encourage the legal team to perform at their best.
“Today, I appeared in court to advocate for the state regarding this land acquisition matter. My appearance is not solely due to the limited number of lawyers we have, but also intended to boost the morale of our legal team and ensure that cases are addressed with the utmost commitment,” the commissioner stated.
He noted that this proactive step may involve his direct participation in court proceedings whenever they pertain to the ministry.
According to him, his role as commissioner extends beyond administrative duties; he intends to actively defend the state’s interests in court and work to resolve ongoing land issues promptly.
Barrister Magaji added that the ministry is facing numerous unresolved legal cases, some of which have persisted for years. He believes that his involvement will help expedite these cases and demonstrate a commitment to efficient governance.
“This is about being proactive and ensuring we do not allow cases to linger indefinitely. There are many cases on our agenda, and my active participation will help accelerate the resolution process,” he said.
“This will not be a one-time occurrence. As a lawyer, I will continue to appear in court when necessary, defending the government and ensuring that we meet the expectations of our people,” he assured.
