Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday adjourned a suit filed over the communal crises between the Tiv and Jukun in Taraba State until October 7 for mention. When the matter was called, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Sebastian Hon (SAN) informed the court that the defendants had filed applications seeking an extension of time to regularise their processes.


Hon said he would not oppose any of the applications for extension of time and prayed for a short adjournment. The judge then adjourned the matter until October 7for hearing of the applications to regularise the processes of parties who had filed. President, Incorporated Trustees of Mdzough U Tiv, Mr IorbeeIhagh, and four others had instituted the suit on the grounds of breach of their fundamental rights.


The applicants are praying for an order of interim injunction restraining the commission of inquiry setup by Governor Darius Ishaku concerning the Tiv/Jukun crisis from sitting to conduct proceedings. They also urged the court to restrain the commission from taking any further step, pursuant to the instrument constituting it, pending the determination of the motion on notice. According to the group, the commission of inquiry as currently set up, constitutes a breach of the fundamental rights of Tiv people.


It contended that the composition of the commission with its name: “Commission of Inquiry into the crisis between Tiv and their neighbouring communities in Taraba”, was skewed against the Tiv community. The applicants are praying the court for among other reliefs, an order quashing the instrument, setting up the commission and quashing its proceedings. It also prayed for an order restraining the governor, the state government and the attorney-general from receiving and acting on any report from the commission.


They noted that the unending crises between Jukun and Tiv tribes in Taraba resulted from the resolve of the Jukun tribe to forcefully push out Tiv people from the state for political and other reasons. On the last adjourned date, Justice Mohammed had transferred the case file back to the chief judge for reassignment. Mohammed transferred the case on the grounds that he took up the case as a vacation judge, adding that his time will elapse on August 27. The case has, however, been reassigned to him for adjudication.