Gbong Gwom Jos Stool Tussle: Judge Orders For Out-Of-Court Settlement

Justice Christine Dabup of the Plateau High Court has ordered
for an out-of-court settlement on the Gbong Gwom Jos traditional
stool tussle.

The Judge gave the order Thursday when the Ada Gwom, Jos-Izere
Chiefdom, Me Ada Emmanuel-Ajik in Jos North local government
announced his interest in the the case.

Through his counsel, Mr Nantok Dashuar, Ada Gbom told the court
that he had a motion for joinder and was ready to move it.

“My Lord, we are here on behalf of Ada Gwom, Jos-Izere Chiefdom,
Jos North local Government and have a motion for joinder, which has
been served on all parties.

“If it pleases your Lordship, we are indeed ready to move our
motion as all parties in this case have been served, “ Dashuar
announced.

But lead counsel to the petitioners, Edward Pwajok objected to
the application.

“My Lord, only this morning, here in this court, we were served
with the said motion for joinder and it will be inappropriate for
them to just move it right away.

“The practice direction is that we should be served first and
given good time to study it and reply appropriately before it could
be moved. He can’t serve us now and move the motion right away, “
Pwajok stated.

Dabup expressed his worry over the dimensions the case had taken
and advised parties to discuss and settle the matter out of
court.

“It’s my candid advice to all of you, the parties involved in
this case, to go and dialogue among yourselves and resolve this
matter.

“Plateau is our State and we have to protect her image from
being bastardized. We shouldn’t be seen to be ones bastardizing
it.

“I hereby order the director of civil Litigation of the State
Ministry of Justice to go and inform Governor Simon Lalong of the
need for this matter be settled amicably without the court getting
involved.

“l will adjourn this case to give you the room and opportunity
to settle the matter out of court. But if at the end of the day you
couldn’t settle, then we shall take Ada Gwom’s motion for joinder,“
the Judge declared.

She then adjourned the case until Oct. 2 for report of
settlement and/or hearing of motion for joinder.

Recall that Lalong had created two traditional councils out of
the Jos Traditional Council, a development that made the Berom
nation to challenge the matter in court.

Interested persons have been filing motions for joinder since
the beginning of the case.

The Ataa Aten, Yakubu Chaimai declared his intention on June 11
while another paramount ruler, the Ujah of Anaguta, Chief Jauro
Magaji joined on June 24.

The Ada Gwom, Jos-Izere Chiefdom, Jos North local government is
the third interested party as it stands.

NAN

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