By Nahum Sule, Jalingo
The Takum Chamba Socio-cultural Development Association has welcomed the Appeal Court’s decision to order a retrial in the long-standing chieftaincy dispute between the Kuteb people and the Taraba state government, alongside the Chamba ruling clan of Takum.
In a statement on Wednesday, the group’s spokesperson, Sawariga Dauda, said the ruling—delivered on March 5, 2025, at the Appeal Court in Yola—remits Appeal No. CA/YL/120/2024 to the Taraba State High Court for a fresh trial before a new judge appointed by the state’s Chief Justice.
Dauda expressed confidence in the judicial process, stating that the Chamba people are prepared to defend their claim to the Takum throne.
“We are not worried about the Appeal Court’s decision for a retrial. We are not appealing; we are defending our position as rightful owners of the Takum chieftaincy stool,” Dauda said.
He emphasized that historical records and previous court rulings support their claim, adding that the Chamba group remains confident of another legal victory.
The ruling is the latest development in the Takum chieftaincy tussle, a dispute that has persisted for years.
The Kuteb people have continued to challenge the Chamba ruling clan’s claim to the throne, rejecting a state government-backed rotation system that would see leadership shared between the Chamba, Kuteb, and Kpanzu groups.
