The Catholic community in Kaduna State has issued a warning to prospective property buyers against entering into transactions involving a disputed parcel of land behind Government Girls Secondary School, along Independence Way. This warning comes amid allegations that the Girl Guides Association, Kaduna State chapter, is attempting to sell the property. The dispute raises concerns over potential financial losses for unsuspecting buyers and the validity of land ownership documents.
According to the Catholic community, the disputed property includes Mother Gregory Hall, located adjacent to the Catholic priests’ cemetery, behind the former Women Teachers College. The community maintains that the entire stretch of land from Masaba Road, where the priests’ burial ground is situated, to the Police College Roundabout originally belonged to the Catholic Church. The Church established and operated the former Our Lady of Apostles Teachers College for Women, which was later taken over by the government in the early 1970s.
The Catholic community claims that the government allocated parts of the original property to the Police Training School and the local government took control of the primary school section. However, the Church retained ownership of the remaining portions, including the priests’ cemetery, Our Lady Primary School, Sacred Heart Primary School, and Mother Gregory Hall. The community explained that the Church initially operated a school on the disputed portion but discontinued its activities when the priests’ burial ground became full.
The Catholic community revealed that Mother Gregory Hall was made available to voluntary organisations, including the Scouts, Man O’ War, and Girl Guides, for training activities for over 30 years without payment. The arrangement was intended to provide space for community and voluntary activities and did not amount to a transfer of ownership or confer proprietary rights on the organisations using the facility. However, the community discovered that the Girl Guides allegedly procured documents and processed a Certificate of Occupancy through the previous administration.
The Catholic community questioned the legal basis for the association’s alleged ownership claim, arguing that it had no original title document, deed of assignment, or evidence of purchase from the Church. The community warned that any prospective purchaser who proceeds with a transaction without independently establishing the property’s ownership status could face financial and legal complications. It advised members of the public not to engage in any transaction involving the disputed land or make payments to individuals claiming to represent the Girl Guides Association.
The Catholic community clarified that the Girl Guides Association is not an organisation under the Catholic Church, insisting that the disputed property remains the Church’s possession. The community urged anyone seeking clarification on the ownership of the land to contact the Church’s leadership in Kaduna before undertaking any transaction. Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Girl Guides Association, Kaduna State chapter, and a prominent member, Mrs Kantiok, were unsuccessful.
The warning from the Catholic community highlights the potential risks associated with property transactions involving contested titles. The dispute over the Kaduna church land and cemetery has raised concerns about the validity of land ownership documents and the need for prospective buyers to exercise caution when engaging in property transactions. The community’s statement serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying ownership status to avoid financial and legal complications.
Key points
- The Catholic community in Kaduna warns buyers of potential risks over disputed land allegedly sold by Girl Guides Association.
- Disputed property includes Mother Gregory Hall and land adjacent to Catholic priests’ cemetery.
- Catholic community clarifies that Girl Guides Association is not under the Church and disputed property remains Church’s possession.
