Taraba Judge Denies Involvement In Land Grabbing, Threat To life

A Taraba State High Court judge, Justice Ali Bappa has distanced himself and family from alleged plans to grab plots of land and accusation that he coordinated attack against a Jalingo-based businessman and politician, Alhaji Umaru Garba Alahsule.

Justice Bappa made the denial on Thursday while speaking with journalists in his office, where he declared that there was no reason to send anybody to attack Alahsule while also denied engaging in any direct land dispute with the businessman.

The clarification was in response to allegations by Alahsule where he accused the judge and his family of planning to grab his plots of land located close to the Taraba State Deputy Governor’s Office in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.

Denying the allegation, Bappa said he did not send anybody to attack Alahsule and did not possess any personal land at the location mentioned by the businessman.

“I have no personal land where the man is raising issues. I know that we have family land within the area, but I have not send anyone to go and destroy anybody’s property. I also have not sent anyone to go and attack anybody in the name of land dispute. I’m a judge, and I know the right way to approach dispute, not by violence,” Bappa stated.

Alahsule had earlier while briefing journalists, accused Justice Bapa and his family members of conniving to forcefully take over his plots of land in Jalingo.

The businessman stated this on Tuesday while briefing journalists in his office, alleging that one Zaran Bapa, a family member of the judge physically attacked him and his friends in his office.

He further alleged that his car was damaged during the attack, while the attackers threatened to kill him should he get close to the plots of land again.

Alahsule added that after assaulting him, the said Zaran proceeded to the disputed land where he destroyed the perimeter fence. “After destroying the perimeter fence, he boldly wrote, ‘Alhaji Bapa Family Land.’

He called on both the federal and state governments, including the security agencies in the state to come to his aid, stating that his life and his properties were in danger.

“I have since reported the Zaran Bappa to Jalingo Police Division. I also reported him at GRA Police Station on the very day of the attacks. The police told me he is at large.

“I have all the needed papers for the plots inside this land. I have done the necessary lands registrations at the Urban Planning, the recent one I did was the Fencing Permit. I have been working here for over 7 years, only construction of the fence took me more than a year. I don’t know where this forceful land grabbing is coming from after all these years,” Alahsule stated while displaying the papers of the land to journalists.

When contacted, the acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Taraba State Police Command, Lashen James said the police were still on the matter.

“I am still working on the matter, I will give you an update later in the day,” Taraba police image maker said.