MALLAM MALA GADZAMA & ANOR V. COLONEL GARBA ADAMU & ORS

JOSEPH TINE TUR, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): Moh'd Mustapha, J., sitting in the High Court of Justice, Borno State holden at Maiduguri, delivered judgment in favour of Colonel Garba Adamu (Rtd) "the respondent" against (1) Mallam Mala A. Gadzama (2) Hajiya Yagana Alkali Muazu (3) the Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Borno State and (4) Hon. Attorney-General, Borno State as defendants, called "the appellants" in this appeal. The subject matter in dispute was a burnt down property No.F11 Bama G.R.A., Maiduguri, Borno State belonging to the Borno State Government. The respondent and the 1st appellant claimed they had at one time or the other, purchased the property from the Borno State Government. Each claimed to be entitled to a statutory Certificate of Occupancy from the Borno State Government. According to the respondent the transaction started in April, 1997 when he paid N2,000.00 for the processing of the documents relating to the purchase of the property.…