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Piriga Chiefdom: Deposed Chief, Zamuna Drags Kaduna Govt to lndustrial Court, Demands N25m Damages
The deposed Chief of Piriga Chiefdom Lere Local Government of Kaduna State, HRH Chief Jonathan Parguwa Zamuna has dragged Kaduna State Government before the National lndustrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Kaduna, seeking an order to restrain the government from his purported dethronement or taking further action on the mater pending the determination of the case.
Chief Zamuna is also praying the industrial court to order Kaduna state government to pay him damages amounting to 25 million Naira for the trauma the purported depose action cost him which he alleged infringed on his fundamental human rights and carried out without following due process and fair hearing.
Lead Counsel to the Claimant, Barrister Napoleon ldenala who briefed journalists on the fact of the case shortly after the case came up Tuesday, said the paramount ruler was not given any query nor given fair hearing on the offence he was alleged to have committed which led to the harsh action of state government.
He explained that all attempt by the deposed chief through written letters for government to give him a chance to state his side of story, proved abortive, and that “since the matter is time bound, he was left with no choice but to approach the court to demand justice for the breach of his fundamental human rights”, adding that all defendants in the case have been duly served on notice.
Barr. ldenalas had told the court that Kaduna state government was allegedly attempting to commence the process of appointing a new chief of Piriga to replaced the purported deposed Chief Zamuna, praying the court for an injunction restraining the government from continuing with such action.
However, the Counsel to Kaduna State Government, Barrister Tukur Yahaya dismissed off the alleged attempt by the government to commenced a process of appointing another Chief for the stool of Piriga Chiefdom as mere rumor and speculation. He also said he was yet to receive the service notice from the claimant.
The presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Sinmisola Adeniyi ruled out the request for an interim injunction for the allege attempt by government to commence process of appointing a new chief as mere rumor without proof which could not be entered in the court’s record.
The Judge thereafter, adjourned the case to 26th July, 2023 for hearing of the Substantive Motion on Notice so as to satisfy the 14 days service window within which all concerned Defence Counsel or parties to file any response or reactions to the Motion for injunction.
It would be recalled that the immediate past Governor of the State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai had in his last days in office – on 22nd May, 2023 announced the dethroning of Chief Jonathan Zamuna as Chief of Piriga and HRH General Iliyah Yammah (Rtd), the paramount ruler of Arak Chiefdom in Sanga Council of the state respectively.
The government which announced the development through the Commissioner for Local Government, Umma Ahmad said the traditional ruler of Arak Chiefdom was deposed for an unacceptable response to a query by the state government over an unauthorised appointment of four District Heads, contrary to the one approved for his chiefdom, and his non-residence within Arak chiefdom.
She added that the traditional ruler of Piriga Chiefdom was removed because of communal clashes between Gure and Kitimi communities and also his non-residence within chiefdom.
However, the government was silent on whether the deposed Piriga Chief, HRH Jonathan Zamuna was giving a query nor return an unsatisfactory reply to a query given him for the alleged offence committed that led to the depose action.
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Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications to Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has responded to the recent appointment of Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to address discussions surrounding this leadership transition. His post aimed to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not dismiss Mele Kyari, a northerner, to replace him with a southerner, as some speculated. Instead, Olayinka pointed out that Ojulari, like Kyari, hails from the northern region of Nigeria.
According to Olayinka’s post on his official X account, he emphasised that Bashir Ojulari is from Kwara State, located in North Central Nigeria. Additionally, the new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, originates from Borno State in the North East.
His post stated: “Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL CEO, is a northerner from Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. The new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is also a northerner, from Borno State, North East Nigeria.”
Olayinka’s statement came in response to narratives suggesting that the appointment was politically motivated to favour one region over another.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, while warning against retaliatory violence targeting Southerners in Northern Nigeria.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, MBF Spokesman Luka Binniyat denounced inflammatory threats from individuals claiming to represent Northern interests in response to the killings.
Recalled that the victims, were allegedly armed hunters, traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano when they were attacked by a mob that accused them of being kidnappers.
“The MBF strongly condemns the unlawful killing of any Nigerian citizen, including those who lost their lives in Uromi,” the statement read. “However, we categorically reject any attempt to use this tragic incident as a pretext to unleash violence against Southerners residing in Northern Nigeria.”
The forum assured that the Middle Belt would not become a battleground for reprisals, emphasizing that it remains a safe haven for all law-abiding Nigerians. It urged community leaders and youths to remain vigilant and prevent any attempts to instigate violence, calling for anyone with such intentions to be handed over to authorities.
The MBF also reaffirmed its commitment to justice for all victims of violence across Nigeria. The statement highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Middle Belt communities, citing persistent attacks by armed herdsmen with little government intervention.
” We hope that the swift response to the Uromi killings would serve as a precedent for broader action against criminal elements terrorizing the region.
“Thousands of our people remain in captivity, and vast portions of our land are still under the control of violent outlaws—primarily Fulani militants,” the statement noted.
“Justice must be served across the board.”
The MBF concluded by reiterating its support for the ongoing investigation into the Uromi incident and calling for a fair and decisive crackdown on all forms of criminality across the country.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.
This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.
Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.
A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.
The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.
“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”
He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.
Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.
“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.
“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.
“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.
The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.