Ministry For Lands, Town Planning Is The Only Arm With Statutory Power To Allocate C/O In Plateau -Justice Bakfur

Yakubu Busari

In a suit filed by  Barr. Munir Abdullahi Barau  before Honourable Justice Hon. Justice S. Bakfur, on the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, C of O. The court held that the Jos Metropolitan Development Board  , JMDB, lacks the locus standing to issue any certificates on behalf of the Ministry of Land, Survey.

Hon. Justice S. Bakfur, while delivering a landmark judgment, held that the board lacks statutory power for it to sign any vital documents relating to lands.

However, the landmark judgment reversed the issuance of C of O by the JMDB over illegal demolition of structures within the Jos, Bukuru axis on Monday, the 22nd Day of  September, 2025.

Hon. Justice S. Bakfur, while delivering judgment, declared that the Jos Metropolitan Development Board has no statutory power to issue a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), and that the function enshrined is to reserve her collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Town Planning, respectively.

“You recall that the land dispute came up between Mustapha Usman Danjinjin (the Claimant) and Alh. Aminu Garba (the Defendant) is situated at  Rikkos area of Jos North Local Government of Plateau State.

” When Mr Danjinjin claimed his right of ownership to the land where he presented a C of O  as his evidence, which is alleged to be issued by the  JMDB, the official was expected to defend.

The Defendant represented his argument before the  honourable justice  Bakfur by  Barr. Munir Barau Abdullahi, countered with a Right of Occupancy (R of O) issued directly by the Plateau State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning, the body legally empowered under Nigerian land laws.

In a judgment that could have far-reaching implications, Justice Bakfur ruled :

“Only the Ministry of Lands, Survey, and Town Planning has the statutory powers to issue Certificates of Occupancy.”

 “JMDB can only allocate spaces for kiosks and minor structures, not issue land titles.”

The court’s position effectively invalidates any C of O issued by JMDB, sending a strong message to landowners and developers across the state.