Community leaders kick, as Gov Ishaku defies court order, appoints traditional ruler
By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
Leaders of Gassol (l) constituency of Taraba state under the umbrella of stakeholders/elders forum, on Saturday kicked against the decision of governor Darius Ishaku, to appoint a 3rd class chief of the newly created Kwararafa chiefdom against the Jalingo high court order.
Hon Hamman Tukur Kawu, the spokesperson of the forum in a press briefing in Jalingo, described the action of the governor as a contempt of court, and as such, an embarrassing slap in the face of the judiciary.
According to Tukur, the creation of Kwararafa Chiefdom out of the existing Gassol Chiefdom by the present Administration of governor Darious Ishaku in 2019, and the appointment of Late John Agbu TSokwa as 3rd Class Chief in the same year was vehemently opposed and rejected by the stakeholders/Elders of Gassol (I) Constituency owing to the fact that the creation of the new chiefdom out of Gassol Chiefdom was improper.
He said, “The creation of Kwararafa Chiefdom out of the existing Gassol Chiefdom by the present Administration of Governor Darious Dickson Ishaku in 2019 and the appointment of Late John Agbu TSokwa as 3rd Class Chief was vehemently opposed and rejected by the stakeholders/Elders of Gassol (I) Constituency owing to the fact that the creation of the new chiefdom out of Gassol Chiefdom was improper.
“This Culminated into a legal action taken by the stakeholder/Elders Forum of Gassol (I), Constituency at the State High Court in Jalingo in order to compel the government to revert her decision on the creation of Kwararafa Chiefdom out of Gassol Chiefdom with a view to maintaining the status quo.
“As law abiding citizens, we directed our counsel, Barr. S.M Wakili Esq, to file a suit before Justice D.N Buba of the State high court Jalingo to stop the government of Taraba State from taking further actions on the new Chiefdom. It may interest you to know that on 10th March 2023, His Lordship, Justice D.N. Buba of the State High court Jalingo, through a motion Ex- pate filed by our counsel granted the following orders:
“AN ORDER of interim injunction restraining the defendant/respondent, who are the Executive Governor of Taraba State, the Attorney General of Taraba State and the Kwararafa Chiefdom traditional Council to either by themselves, privies Agents, Representatives directly or indirectly from appointing, installing, recognising, coronating any person, temporary or permanently and or otherwise as the substantive 3rd Class Chief of Kwararafa Chiefdom of Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State pending the determination of the motion on notice in suit No.TRSJ/85/2018
“AN ORDER of interim injunction restraining the defendants/Respondents from redirecting any person whosoever, directily or indirectly from parading himself or themselves as the Representatives of the Departments in kwararafa Village of Gassol local government area of Taraba State pending the determination of the motion on notice in Suit.”
Hamman Tukur said, despite the Court order which they believed was served on the State government and to other defendants, Governor Darius Ishaku and the state flagrantly disobeyed the court order and went ahead to appoint one Melthusela E. Adamu as the 3rd class Chief of Kwararafa chiefdom on March 23, 2023.
He expressed that they do not only view the appointment as a gross contempt of court but an abuse of the rule of law and a mockery of judicial process, and call on governor Darius Ishaku to respect the order of the Court and suspend all actions on the creation of Kwararafa Chiefdom and appointment of a new Chief of Kwararafa.
The community leaders also appealed to people in the area to remain calm and distance themselves from any action that would disrupt the peaceful co-existence of the residents.
