A legal battle has unfolded in Borno State following the demolition of a multi-million naira, four-storey shopping mall owned by Hon. Attom Magira, a prominent chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The building, located on Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, opposite the State low-cost housing estate in Maiduguri, was razed by the Borno State government, prompting Magira to seek legal redress.
Through his lawyer, Hamza N. Dantani Esq. of Kayode Ajulo & Co. Castle of Law, Magira has filed a lawsuit against the Borno State Urban Planning and Development Board (BOSUPDB) at the Borno State High Court. The suit, numbered BOHC/MG/CV/8/2025, alleges the demolition was unlawful and conducted under the direct instruction of Governor Babagana Zulum. Magira asserts that he is a law-abiding citizen and had sought the court’s protection to prevent the demolition until a determination was made regarding any alleged violations of town planning rules.
According to report that the state government has recently carried out demolitions of illegal structures and residential buildings in parts of Maiduguri, but has yet to issue a statement regarding the specific demolition of Magira’s property.
According to Dantani, “the demolition of my client’s Plaza is not just an attack on one man’s investment but a blatant disregard for the rule of law, judicial authority, and the economic future of Borno State. This brazen act, driven by political vendetta rather than lawful governance, exposes the alarming level of impunity that has become the trademark of the present administration.”
Dantani emphasized that Hon. Attom Magira is the lawful owner of the property, holding a statutory right of occupancy and having obtained all necessary permits from BOSUPDB, including development permit no. BSUPDB/DC/2194 over statutory right of occupancy no. BO/86138. He further noted that BOSUPDB raised no concerns during the building’s construction.
Beyond personal gain, Hon. Attom Magira’s investment was a source of livelihood for many people in Borno State, employing indigenes and residents in various capacities during construction and providing commercial space that would have boosted local businesses. In a state ravaged by Boko Haram terrorism, insecurity, and economic crisis, such an investment should have been welcomed and protected—not torn down in the name of political persecution,” Dantani concluded.”
