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