Falana Asks CJ To Assign Jukun, Benue Govt, Tor Tiv Suit

Solicitors to the National Association of Jukun Wanu (NAJUWA), Falana and Falana Chambers has complained to the chief judge of Benue State over the non-assigning of a suit involving its client and the Benue State Government and four others.

In a letter of complaint dated April 18, 2024, the chamber expressed dismay over a case filed on February 2, 2024, and yet to be assigned.

The letter signed by Samuel Ogala for the principal partner, informed the chief judge that the claimants and all Jukun Wanu indigenes are already agitated by the non-assignment of the case hence the need to act urgently on the letter by exercising its administrative powers by assigning the suit to a court for adjudication.

It was gathered that the chief judge has been assigning cases to various courts for adjudication even after February 2, 2024, when the NAJUWA suit was filed but left it unattended to without any reason.

But NAJUWA, through its secretary-general, Nuhu Adagba, said they want the world to note that the Tiv Traditional Council had been using unconstitutional means to scuttle the suit, which is being spearheaded by the Tor Tiv using Ter Guma and Tor Lobi who invited some of its members to meetings which were explicitly recorded in which “our communities were tasked to withdraw the lawsuit or in the alternative write a letter of disclaimer which can be used to discredit the matter in court.”

“They have also threatened that their plan to install a Tiv Chief in Abinsi will soon be realized despite NAJUWA’s matter in court,” he claimed.

However, the Jukun Wanu Association (JUWA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in its April meeting unanimously urged NAJUWA not to relent or withdraw the suit.

NAJUWA sued the office of the Benue State Governor, Benue State Government, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Benue State House of Assembly, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Benue State, and HRM, Orchivirigh Prof Ortese James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and president, Benue State Council of Chiefs over decades of discriminatory policies against Benue Jukun.

It declared that under section 25 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the people of Jukun Wanu are indigenes of Guma local government area, Makurdi local government area, and Logo local government area of Benue State and citizens of Nigeria and as such are entitled to equal protection under any law made in Nigeria including Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Council Law 2016,