A Plateau State High Court on Thursday issued an interim injunction
stopping Gov Simon Lalong from tampering with the composition of the
Gbong Gwom Jos Traditional Council.
NAN reports that the injunction was issued by Justice Christine
Dabup, after listening to Mr. Niri Darong, Counsel to seven “illustrious
sons of Berom nation”, who had dragged the state government before him
over the creation of two traditional councils out of the Jos Traditional
Council.
The state government had last week created Riyom and Jos North Traditional Councils out of the Jos Joint Traditional Council.
The creation of the two councils left the Jos Joint Traditional
Council with only two local governments – Jos and Barkin-Ladi – instead
of the former four.
The state government also announced that the Attah Aten of Ganawuri
would chair the Riyom Traditional Council, while the Ujah of Anaguta
would head the Jos North Traditional Council.
Irked by that move, the seven petitioners, led by Mr Daniel Choji,
“on behalf of themselves and all adult male Berom indigenes of Berom
Districts in Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local
Governments, rushed to the court to stop it.
Joined in the suit were Plateau State Government as the 1st
defendant, while the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Local
Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are 2nd and 3rd defendants.
Others included the Chairman, Jos North Local Government, and
Chairman, Riyom Local Government, as 4th and 5th defendants
respectively.
Dabup, in issuing the order, said that it followed an ex-parte motion
dated May 22, 2019 and filed the same day by one Da Daniel Chji of
Dong, in Kabong, Jos North Local Government, in which he prayed for an
interim injunction and mandatory order.
“The defendants, their agents, representatives or privies are hereby
restrained from tampering with the Jos Joint Traditional Council,
including suspending or deposing any member of the Jos Joint Traditional
Council, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“The defendants are mandated to continue to recognize the Gbong Gwom
Jos as the President of Jos Joint Traditional Council made up of Jos
North, Jos South, Barkin Kadi and Riyom Local Governments, pending the
hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”
Dabup fixed June 11, 2019 for the hearing on the motion on notice.
