By Yusuf Maina
The recent appointment of Traditional title of Oron Akye, a second-class chief in lafia North Development Area, by the Nasarawa state government has been described as unlawful and a disregard for judicial process.
This is coming from a concern, Ward Head of Alingani Village, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim Atoshi, through his lawyer, Barrister Aliyu Idris, who emphasizes that the selection of Mr Dalhatu Mohammed Omiya as the Oron Akye, which is the Paramount ruler of the Akye ethnic group in Nasarawa state, while a substantive suit was pending, was a deliberate act of contempt against the High Court of Justice Doma.
“The selection was carried out while a substantive suit No: NSD/LF27/2022 was pending and at the final stage of judgment, still they proceeded despite the filing of an urgent motion for interim injunction and interlocutory injunction duly served on Nasarawa state government, the state Traditional Council and Mr Dalhatu Mohammed Omiya seeking to restrain the state government from interfering with the succession process.
The statement noted that the appointment not only violates the rule of law but also flagrantly disregards the native law and customs governing the Traditional stool of Oron Akye.
It further explains that the position of Oron Akye is rotational, and following the demise of the late Oron Akye from Ugah village, the crown is rightfully due to rotate to Alingani village, where Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim Atoshi is the valid Ward Head, which automatically made the selection of Mr Dalhatu Mohammed Omiya to violate the already established rotational principle under Nasarawa state Law No. 2 of 2013.
The statement pointed out that the selection of Mr Dalhatu Mohammed Omiya was carried out despite protests and reservations raised by some prominent traditional rulers in the state: an indication that the action lacks traditional support and legitimacy from the majority of people of Alingani, Gwayaka, Kiguna, and Ugah villages that make up the chiefdom ..
“We believe that the Executive Governor of Nasarawa state and officials of the state government were misrepresented and misled by certain individuals within the ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy affairs as well as the state Traditional Council, “the statement alleges..
It further states that “these officials, acting in bad faith and exploiting the temporary constraint of the trial judge, deliberately provided faulty counsel to the state, leading the government into an act of severe illegality and an unprecedented challenge to the Judicial authority of the state..
The Counsel therefore calls on the state government to set aside the selection and process appointment of Mr Dalhatu Mohammed Omiya over contempt of court.
It also seeks the committal to prison of all key officials of the Nasarawa state government, the state Traditional Council, and the third Defendant who participated in the act of defiance against the court..
The statement, however, appealed to the involved to remain calm and peaceful, assuring the people that the judiciary remains the last bastion of hope for the common man, and to be hopeful that the court will nullify the purported unlawful appointment and sanction those responsible for the contemptuous act.
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