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| Edward Pwajok (SAN) with Berom elders at the premises of the Federal High Court, Jos Division on Tuesday. |
The number of deaths Berom recorded in their land as a result of attacks,
tantamount to genocide- Edward Pwajok (SAN).
By Joseph A. Adudu
December 11, 2019.
Edward Pwajok, (SAN) has said that the Berom people, North Central
Nigeria have a cause of action against the Federal Government of Nigeria for
its inability to protect them. Pwajok made this statement while speaking to
journalists on Tuesday at the premises of the Federal High Court Jos Division.
He spoke to journalists immediately after arguing on an application for parties
seeking to be joined as co-defenders in a N50
billion suit entered by the Fulani community in Plateau state against the
Federal Government. The Fulani, in the suit sought declaratory reliefs and
monetary compensation against the Federal Government for the lives and
properties lost by them in Jos South, Riyom and Barkin Ladi local Government
Areas of Plateau state. However, Pwajok, counsel for parties seeking to be
joined commended the Fulani for chosen legal means of ventilating their
grievance rather than resorting to other illegal means. "I am very happy
with the opportunity to make our case peacefully. It's better to come to court
and ventilate your grievance rather than taking guns or bow and arrows to kill.
“The Fulani have sued the Federal Government claiming up to N50 billion for the lost of about 500
Fulani and a number of cows. But why we are in court is that the Fulani are
alleging that it's the Berom people that killed them in Jos south, Riyom and
Barkin Ladi. So, we have applied to the court that there is no way this matter
can be done in the absence of the Berom people", said Pwajok.
Counsel expressed optimism that the court will grant their
application and allowed them in because of the grave allegations leveled
against the Berom that they killed Fulani people. " The Berom people ought
to be heard because, you can't shave a man in his absence. That's why the Berom
people are in court to be joined. It's only when they are joined that the whole
world would see their statement of defense.
“We are optimistic that we will get justice because this is a
court of justice. Justice is an issue of fundamental right and the Berom people
have a fundamental right to be heard and not to be condemn in their
absence", said counsel.
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| Edward Pwajok SAN, (r), Niri Daron (m) speaking to journalists after court session at Federal High Court, Jos on Tuesday |
The legal luminary noted that the case had the potential of
portraying the Berom people in bad light and other people including the
international community would start seeing the Berom people as murderers, as
killers and people who don't like their neighbors or other human beings. He
said that coming to court was a big opportunity for the Berom to also lay their
facts to their loses. "You heard what the Fulani lawyer said in court,
that the Berom people have suffered loses, probably, even more loses than them
but that the Berom people should have joined them as plaintiffs.
“But our answer is that why then are you making grave allegations
against us? If they had not said that we are the killers, we would have joined
them as plaintiffs. But the truth is that we too have a cause of action against
the Federal Government of Nigeria because they have not protected the Berom people.
“As a matter of fact, the number of deaths that the Berom people
have suffered as a result of attacks in their land tantamount to genocide. The number of people that have died from
the record that we have which we are bringing to the court is equal to some
local governments in Nigeria", Pwajok said.
 with Berom elders at the premises of the Federal High Court, Jos Division on Tuesday. The number of deaths Berom...){kind=link}
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