The National Association of Jukun Wanu (NAJUWA) has expressed dismay over the continuous postponement of its litigation against the Benue State Government and others over alleged discrimination and marginalisation in the state.
NAJUWA had sued the Office of the Benue State Governor, Benue State Government, Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Benue State House of Assembly, the state Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Orchivirigh Professor Ortese James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and President, Benue State Council of Chiefs over alleged decades of discriminatory policies against Benue Jukun.
NAJUWA is requesting for N1billion as damages for prolonged act of discrimination against Benue Jukun.
In a notice by the Secretary General of NAJUWA, Mr. Nuhu Adagba, the mention on the matter billed for Thursday October 17, 2024 at High Court 5A, was shifted to a new date yet to be communicated.
According to the notice, the date is slated for a valedictory court session in honour of three lawyers that died recently.
But NAJUWA explained that it is a deliberate ploy to frustrate the case as it is the second time the court is shifting the hearing within a very short time.
In the first instance, the case was billed for mention on Wednesday,10 July, 2024 before it was shifted to October 17, 2024 on the excuse that judges were going to Abuja to honour the swearing in of some judges into a higher court of jurisdiction.
Apart from shifts of date for mention of the case, NAJUWA said it took months and intervention of its solicitors, Falana and Falana Chambers, before the Benue State Chief Judge could assigned the case.
The solicitors to NAJUWA had, in a letter of complaint by Samuel Ofala Esq for the Principal Partner, dated 18 April, 2024, expressed dismay over a case filed on 2 February, 2024 but not assigned.
The solicitors informed the Chief Judge that the claimants and all Jukun Wanu indigenes are already agitated by the non-assignment of the case, hence the need to act urgently and exercise its administrative powers by assigning the suit to a court for adjudication.
A national official of NAJUWA who pleaded anonymity, said the association will never be weakened by the alleged antics of the Benue State Government in a matter that concerns the very soul of the people.
NAJUWA had claimed that the Benue State Government has enacted some policies inimical to its very existence in an environment they rightly own.
It declared that, by virtue of the provision of Section 25 of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the people of Jukun Wanu are indigenes of Guma, Makurdi and Logo local government areas of Benue State and citizens of Nigeria.
NAJUWA also claimed that, as such, they are entitled to equal protection under any law made in Nigeria, including Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Council Law 2016.
It claimed that, by virtue of the provision of Section 42 of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the people of Jukun Wanu who are indigenes of Guma, Makurdi and Logo local government reas of Benue State are entitled to freedom from discrimination on the basis of the circumstances of their birth.
The association stated that, by virtue of Section 25 of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the respondents are not competent to make any law or adopt any policy which discriminates against the people of Jukun Wanu who are indigenes of Benue State in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.
It declared that the exclusion of Jukun Wanu who are indigenes of Guma, Makurdi and Logo local government areas of Benue State from Schedule 5 and 6 of Section 18(1) of the Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Council Law 2016 is illegal and unconstitutional.
NAJUWA averred that its members are Jukun Wanu (Riverine Jukun) whom are indigenes of Benue State and whose ancestral origin can be traced to many communities in the state.
According to it, the communities included, but are not limited to Abinsi, Agyogo (Makurdi) Akatungu (North Bank), Agyetashi, Azhoko (Ankwa), Abweni, Anmor (Fiidi) and Ando Sede (Bajimba).
NAJUWA also listed the communities to include Anuwha, Atenge, Anyishi, Asugu, Gidin Mangoro, Akatsu, Agbodo, Zhamindo, Ashuku, Kitsani, Aguye and Asokpoga, among others.
