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Tag: Fufore Emirate

  • Contentions over jurisdiction stalls suit challenging creation of Fufore Emirate

    Contentions over jurisdiction stalls suit challenging creation of Fufore Emirate

    The suit challenging the creation of Fufore Emirtate in Adamawa State has been adjourned over issue of jurisdiction of the court entertaining it.

    Before the adjournment to July 14, tension rose at the  High Court in Yola, when defence and plaintiff counsels clashed over the court’s legal competence.

    After the judge walked into the court room for the day’s session, he entertained arguments on two motions for stay of proceedings filed by the defense counsel, the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Afraimu Jingi, stemming from their appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the high court over the suit.

    After the verbal fire works by the counsels, Justice Usman fixed the July 14 date over the matter of jurisdiction.

    In an interview after the court session, the defense counsel told newsmen, “We have always maintained that the court must first determine whether it has jurisdiction before proceeding.”

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    On his part, the plaintiff’s lead counsel, Manga Nuruddeen, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), explained: “We adjourned this matter for hearing today, but unfortunately, the defense filed two motions for a stay of proceedings because of their so-called appeal.”

    The Adamawa State Government had created the Fufore Emirate last year, an action that divided opinions across the state and prompted the court case.

    The plaintiffs in the case, Musa Halilu Ahmed (Dujima Adamawa), Mustapha Dahiru Mustapha (Yeriman Adamawa), and Mustapha Ahmad (Sarkin Noma Adamawa) are prominent traditional stakeholders who approached the court to nullify the creation of the Fufore Emirate on claims that undermines the territorial integrity of the Adamawa Emirate from which it was carved.

    The state government, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the state Chief Judge Hapsat Abdulrahman, and the newly installed Emir of Fufore, Muhammad Sani Ribadu, are listed as the defendants in the suit.

  • Court adjourns case against Adamawa govt over Fufore Emirate creation to April 3

    Court adjourns case against Adamawa govt over Fufore Emirate creation to April 3

    A High Court in Yola has adjourned proceedings to April 3, 2025, in a case challenging the Adamawa State Government’s creation of the Fufore Emirate.

    Presiding over Tuesday’s sitting, Justice Musa Usman postponed the hearing to allow the defense counsel sufficient time to respond to a cross affidavit filed by the state government.

    The Fufore Emirate was among seven chiefdoms and two emirates established by the government in December 2024. Earlier this month, three plaintiffs—Musa Halilu Ahmed, Alhaji Mustapha Dahiru Mustapha, and Alhaji Mustapha Ahmad, all titleholders in the Adamawa Emirate—filed a suit seeking to nullify its creation, arguing it undermines the historical and cultural heritage of the Adamawa Emirate.

    During Tuesday’s session, plaintiffs’ lead counsel, Manga Nuruddeen (SAN), requested time to reply to the government’s cross affidavit. 

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    The state’s Commissioner for Justice, Afraimo Jingi, revealed that the government had initially sought to have the case struck out for being improperly constituted. 

    However, the plaintiffs later requested that some of the issues raised be referred to the Court of Appeal—an application the state opposed.

    With the new adjournment, the plaintiffs will have time to file their reply before the court hears the main motion.

  • The coming of Adamawa’s Fufore Emirate

    The coming of Adamawa’s Fufore Emirate

    • By Zayyad I. Muhammad

    Sir: The creation of the two new emirates and five chiefdoms by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri was guided by two principles: first, the community’s request and demand, and second, the provisions of the Adamawa State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law 2024, which has been formally gazetted and is now part of the state’s statutes. Without this law, the governor would lack the power and legal authority to fulfil the community’s requests.

    The Fufore Emirate was established based on the demands of the 12 districts and their people. For those suggesting that Gurin, Malabu, and Ribadu or any other districts were coerced into joining the Fufore Emirate, consider the example of Zumo and Song. They chose not to join the new Yungur Chiefdom and remained with the Adamawa Emirate, while Gurin, Malabu, and Ribadu opted to be with Fufore. It’s straightforward: in a democracy, you get what you ask for.

    Governor Fintiri didn’t simply wake up one morning and declare, “Let there be Fufore Emirate,” and it came into existence. It was the product of requests, demands, negotiations, mutual understanding, and the backing of law and authority.

    Up to this moment, most of the noise about the creation of the Fufore Emirate is coming from people outside the 12 districts.

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    None of the 12 districts—Ribadu, Daware, Bengo, Verre, Nyibango, Kofsopah, Malabu, Malabu Kofa, Mayoine, Gurin, Beti, and Wuro Sham—has filed a petition or challenged the creation of the Fufore Emirate or their inclusion in it. In fact, the heads of all 12 districts were the first to pledge their allegiance and pay homage to the new Lamido of Fufore, His Royal Highness Sani Ahmadu Ribadu.

    On behalf of the 12 district heads, the District Head of Malabu was both emphatic and unwavering in his expression of loyalty and support for the new Emirate during the reception of the new Emir in Fufore.

    The Fufore Emirate, like any other emirate in Nigeria, is a product of law—established by the Adamawa State House of Assembly and gazetted in Adamawa. The emergence of the new Fufore Emirate, its Emir, and the allegiance and support of all 12 district heads and their subjects are outcomes of law, clear legal provisions, government authority, negotiation, and the people’s requests and demands. These are the fundamentals of tradition, custom, and democracy.

    Let us allow the citizens, friends, and neighbours of the Fufore Emirate to celebrate, as this expansion of horizons will foster development and strengthen unity, prosperity, and peace.

    •Zayyad I. Muhammad,

    Abuja.