By Tanko Yusuf, Jalingo 


TARABA- The third class chief of Tii-Ichen Chiefdom in Kurmi local government area of Taraba State, Hon. Justice Emmanuel Dodo (Rtd) on Thursday installed the new district heads he appointed in defiance to an order of the Jalingo High Court. 



The High Court of Justice of Taraba State had on May 3, 2023, presided over by Justice Nuhu Adi granted an ex-parte application brought before it by counsel to the plaintiffs Dr. Ibrahim Effiong stopping the monarch and three others from doing anything in respect to the chiefdom, pending the determination of the substantive matter. 


According to the ex-parte order signed by Justice Nuhu Adi and assistant Chief Registrar Glory Jacob, the court said there was merit in the application Ex Parte made by the counsel to the plaintiff and therefore,  granted an interim junction restraining the 4th Defendant/Respondent (Emmanuel Dodo Audu from parading or holding out himself in whatsoever manner as the Tii Ichen-Kurmi, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on notice. 


The court also granted an interim injunction restraining the 4th Defendant/Respondent, including his Assigns, Agents, and Legal Representatives in whatever name called, from acting in a whatsoever manner in relation to the Stool or Office of Tii Ichen-Kurmi, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction. 


“An order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 4th Defendant/Respondent from taking any step whatsoever or doing anything detrimental to the interests of the Plaintiffs/Applicants including but not limited to the creation of new Districts, appointment, and coronation of District Heads in Ichen-Kurmi Chiefdom.”


But despite the court order, the Monarch and retired President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Emmanuel Dodo went ahead and crowned the district heads at a ceremony in his house in Jalingo. 


Reacting to the ex-parte motion restraining him from carrying out any action as the Third Class chief of Tii-Ichen, the monarch said he has not been served with the court summons. “They only wanted to stop me from installing  the district heads.”


Some of the people from the chiefdom who spoke to our correspondent called on Governor Darius Ishaku to wade in and resolve the issues as the tension building in the community may lead to violence in the days ahead. 


“The monarch is aware of the tension that is generated as a result of the selection of the district heads and that is why he chose to carry out their installation in his house in Jalingo, instead of Kurmi. Already, palpable tension has enveloped the chiefdom and the council at large.  We are afraid it might result to unrest,” a community leader who preferred anonymity told our correspondent.