Nasarawa State High Court in Obi has ordered parties in a land dispute involving 21 Tiv communities, the state, and Army to maintain the status quo and preserve the 10,000 hectares of ancestral farmlands pending determination of the suit.
The directive, by Justice Solomon Ayenaje, followed an oral application by plaintiffs’ counsel, T. J. Aondo (SAN).
Tiv community leaders from Awe and Obi Local Governments filed the suit.
The plaintiffs are seeking to stop ‘unlawful and forceful acquisition of their ancestral lands by state agents.
The court made an order for preservation of the res, and held that no party should take steps that could affect the land until the issues are resolved.
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The court was scheduled to take up the plaintiffs’ originating summons challenging Executive Order No. 3 of 2023 by the governor carried out contrary to relevant laws.
An application for joinder was introduced by A.U. Idris, representing Farm Network Services, an interested party.
The court granted five days for state counsel, Alhassan, to respond, two days for the plaintiffs to reply, and an additional five days for all parties to file their further affidavits.
It also directed interested parties to file counter-affidavits to the originating summons in seven days, including Osoho of Agwatashi, Dr. Umar Apeshi.
The matter was then adjourned to June 11, to hear all pending applications.