Alleged Land Seizure: We Followed Due Process, Says Taraba Govt

Taraba State government has denied allegations of taking over the ancestral lands of some Tiv communities.

It stated that due process was followed and notices were issued to the affected persons before development commenced on the affected lands.

The state attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, Mr Yakubu Maikasuwa, told LEADERSHIP that under the Land Use Act, “nobody owns any land in the state, except Governor Agbu Kefas.”

Maikasuwa stated that before people can acquire land titles, they must undergo specific processes, as anything short of that remains the property of the state government.

The commissioner clarified that the state government followed proper procedures in acquiring the disputed lands, as notices were issued, which were ignored by some individuals.

“Ordinarily, I shouldn’t be talking about the matter that has been filed before the court of law. But my response will correct any negative impression that we acted outside the law.

“That such action has been filed, we will not take matters into our hands because if we do that, it will amount to abuse of the process of law. We will not take any step till the case is determined.

“There is an ongoing development there; proper procedures were taken, and we followed the law in acquiring those places. Notices were issued, and some persons avoided the service notice.

“I do not want to go into detail because it is before the court of law. We followed the law in everything we are doing there. We are a government that respects the rule of law. We took the steps prescribed by the Land Use Act; some persons avoided the service. If anything happened that is outside the law, it is not within our authorization,” he said.

Meanwhile, the indigenous Tiv communities of Ikyaior and Jandeikyula in Wukari local government area have filed a N100 billion suit against the state government, the governor, the attorney-general, the Taraba State Geographic Information Service (TSGIS) and the Nigerian Army over the alleged forceful seizure and destruction of their ancestral lands and farmlands.

The communities, represented by a legal team led by a constitutional lawyer, Prof. Sebastine Hon (SAN), claimed that soldiers and state authorities unlawfully took over an estimated eight-by-six-kilometre expanse of land without issuing any notice of acquisition, conducting an assessment or paying compensation as required by law.

According to the suit, the disputed land includes ancestral homes, farmlands and other properties that have been passed down through generations of Tiv families.

The applicants argued that the government and the army violated their constitutionally protected rights under Sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee the right to own immovable property and prohibit compulsory acquisition without due process.

The plaintiffs asked the court for a declaration that the respondents’ actions constituted a breach of their fundamental rights, alongside a perpetual injunction stopping further occupation or development of the land.

They also demanded N50 billion as general damages and another N50 billion in exemplary damages for alleged trespass and rights violations.

When the case came up for hearing at the Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, the trial judge directed all the respondents to appear and show cause why the reliefs sought should not be granted.

The matter has been adjourned to January 19, 2026, after the court’s recess.