GPAN, Six Gombe sisters drag Monarch to court over farmland inheritance
BY Chima Azubuike
The Presiding Judge of Gombe High Court Government Reserved Area, Daurabo Sikkam, has granted application of the Defence Counsel and adjourned sitting to 27th April 2023, in a case involving six sisters, against Kamai District Head Zubairu Ahmadu and three others.
The six sisters include; Aliona Toddo, Rony Toddo, Asabar Toddo, Saratu Toddo, Hassana Toddo, Hussaina Toddo.
Our correspondent reports that the case which was filed by an International Non Governmental Organisation; Global Pan Africanism Network against Ahmadu, for allegedly depriving Toddo’s daughters their inherited farms from their late father.
The traditional leader was accused of conspiring with Julius Lamido, Jude Maigari and Dolton Toddo to deny the women the farms on the basis of their gender.
Speaking, Counsel to the North-East Regional office of GPAN Barrister Ibrahim Ambore-Nuhu, who appeared for the plaintiffs during the court’s first sitting for mentioning of the case on Thursday told journalists in an interview that their suit seeks the order of the court confirming that the plaintiffs are the owners of farmland located at Ladongor, Lakwantangalan and Lakaikai and house erected on the land at Kalmai, Billiri, Gombe State.
They also demanded the court to set aside the sale of any portion of the plaintiffs’ inherited farmland at Ladongor, Kalmai Billiri Gombe State sold by the fourth defendant to the first, second and third defendants without the consent of the plaintiffs.
“By virtue of the validity test of customary law and section 42 of the 1999 constitution, the plaintiffs are entitled to inherit their late father’s (Amin Toddo) properties.
“We need an order of this honourable court that the farmland located and situated at Ladongor, Lakwantangalan, Lakaikai and the house erected on the land and any other properties left by their late father Amin Toddo at Kalmai, Billiri, Gombe State to be distributed from their mother side (Kebba) to the heirs of late Amin Toddo i.e. the plaintiffs and the 4th defendant.
“An order of this honourable court restraining the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, their servants, or privies from further interfering or trespassing on the farmland located at Ladongor, Kalmai Billiri Gombe State,” he said.
Also, Counsel to the defendants, Barrister Ishaku David, told the court that his clients required some time to react to the summon notice served on them and applied for time to respond.
