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| Federal High Court, Jos Division. |
By Joseph A.Adudu
December 11, 2019
The counsel representing the Fulani community in
Plateau state in the N50 billion suit against the Federal Government at the
Federal High Court, Jos, M. M Nurudeen (SAN), on Tuesday
admitted in open court that the Berom people have suffered heavy losses as
a result of crises in Plateau state. The Fulani community in Plateau state have
instituted a suit against the Federal Government at the Federal High Court Jos
Division in 2016 seeking declaratory reliefs and monetary compensation in the
sum of N50 billion for the lives and
properties lost by them within the period of 2007 to 2012 to the Berom people
of Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of Plateau state.
However, the Berom people
made an application to the court as parties seeking to be joined as co-
defenders. Arguing on the application, Edward Pwajok SAN, counsel for parties
seeking to be joined urged the court to grant the application taking into
account that the Fulani alleged that it was the Berom people that killed their
people in the above mentioned local government stressing that in the spirit of
fair hearing, (which is also a fundamental right as enshrined in the Nigerian
Constitution), the Berom people have a fundamental right to be heard and not to
be condemned in their absence.
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| M.M Nurudeen SAN, confesses in open court that Berom have suffered heavy losses as a result of crises. |
Counsel for the Fulani
however, opposed the application, though acknowledged that the Berom people
have suffered heavy losses as a result of crises in the state when he said,
" It is true my Lord that the Berom people have also suffered heavy losses
as a result of the crises". Counsel however, noted that the Berom should
have applied to be joined as plaintiffs rather than as co- defenders so as both
the Fulani and the Berom communities could hold the Federal Government ransom
of the unfortunate lost of lives and properties in Plateau state. Counsel for
parties seeking to be joined told the court that they would have done exactly
what counsel for Plaintiffs/respondents was saying if only the Berom people
were not alleged to be responsible for the killings of the Fulani. "My
Lord, there are grave allegations that hordes of Berom people killed Fulani in
Jos south, Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas. My Lord, may I humbly
submit that this raises the question as to whether or not the Berom people
killed Fulani in these local government areas. So, this question must be
answered before reliefs are granted or denied". The matter was adjourned
till February 12, 2020 for ruling on the application.
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