By: Valentine Adese (JP),
The Suit No: PLD/1257/2023, filed by the allegedly suspended Plateau State Local Government Council (LGC) Chairmen and some Councilors, being led by Hon. Miskoom Alexander Naantuam (Chairman, Shendam LGC) has again been adjourned to the 25th of September, 2023, for hearing.
The adjournment came, owing to, an Application for Joinder filed by, Hon. Zulfa Bitrus Rimven, the former Chairman of, Langtang North LGC.
Reacting to the Joinder being sought, Chief Femi Falana (SAN), the Counsel to the 33 Claimants, leading, T. Kekemeke (Esq) and other Senior Lawyers, told the Court that, the Application was only served on them last week Thursday and therefore, they would want to react to it. He also told the Court that, they have 7 days to respond to the Application.
On his part, K. L. Malan (Esq), Counsel to the Defendants (the Attorney-General of Plateau State and the State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang), told the Court that, they were served on the 27th of July, 2023 and would not be opposing the Application.
Malan (Esq) however said, “Why are they coming in piecemeal?”
Reacting to Malan (Esq) on this line, Chief Falana, expressed surprise that, “The Defendants that are yet to respond to the Originating Summons are already not opposing an Application for Joinder”.
Falana (SAN), told the Court that, parties have already agreed before Hon. Justice Kunda, for the Originating Summons and the Preliminary Objection to the suit be heard on the 22nd of September, 2023 and after the Vacation.
After hearing all the Counsels in the matter, the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Bakfur, adjourned the matter to the 25th of September, 2023, after the Counsels in the matter had given their consents.
Justice Bakfur, who is the Vacation Judge in the Plateau State High Court has however, warned rumour mongers to stay off spreading wrong information about him.
He told the Counsels present that, he has heard that, rumour mongers are already spreading “beer parlor news” that, he went to Abuja to see the 1st Defendant, Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
Justice Bakfur reminded the rumour mongers that, though he is from the same stock with the Governor, the Judiciary and Lawyers are governed by several Codes and Ethical Standards.
He also told the parties in the suit that, he was going to return the file to the Chief Judge, as the date agreed upon by Counsels is after the Vacation.
You would recall that, the Suit No: PLD/1257/2023, filed by the allegedly suspended Plateau State Local Government Council (LGC) Chairmen, is seeking the Court to determine:-
- Whether the provisions of Section 95(1) of the Plateau State Local Government Council Law, 2016, which purports to give the Governor of Plateau State, the 1st Defendant herein, undescribed and unascertainable powers to take extra-ordinary measures in the circumstances listed therein, clothes the Defendant with powers to disturb, alter, terminate and/or dissolve the fixed or guaranteed 3 year tenure of office of the Claimants which ensured to them by a democratic election, pursuant to which they took the oath of allegiance and oath of office on the 11th of October, 2021 is not inconsistent with Section 7(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), among 4 other questions.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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