Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned a suit filed over the communal crisis between the Tiv and Jukun in Taraba until Oct. 7 for mention.
When the matter was called, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Sebastian Hon, SAN, informed the court that the defendants filed applications seeking extension of time to regularise their processes.
Hon said that he would not oppose any of the application for extension of time and prayed for a short adjournment.
The judge then adjourned the matter until Oct. 7 for hearing of the applications to regularise processes of parties who had filed.
Mr Iorbee Ihagh, President, the Incorporated Trustees of Mdzough U Tiv, and four others instituted the suit on the grounds of breach of their fundamental rights.
The applicants are praying for an order of interim injunction, restraining the commission of inquiry set by Gov. Darius Ishaku, concerning the Tiv/Jukun crisis from sitting to conduct proceedings.
They also urged the court to restrain the commission from taking any further step, pursuant to the instrument constituting it and pending the determination of the motion on notice.
According to the group, the commission of inquiry as currently set up, constitutes a breach of the fundamental rights of the Tiv people.
They contended that the composition of the commission with its name: “Commission of Inquiry into the crisis between Tiv and their neighbouring communities in Taraba”, was skewed against the Tiv community.
The applicants are praying the court for, among other reliefs, an order quashing the instrument setting up the commission and quashing its proceedings.
The Tiv community also prayed for an order restraining the governor, the state government and the Attorney-General, from receiving and acting on any report from the commission.
They noted that the crisis between Jukun and Tiv tribes in Taraba allegedly resulted from the resolve of the Jukun tribe to forcefully push out the Tiv people from the state, for political and other reasons.
On the last adjourned date, Justice Mohammed transferred the case file back to the Chief Judge of the court for reassignment.
Justice Mohammed transferred the case on the grounds that he took up the case as a vacation judge, adding that his time as vacation judge will elapse on Aug. 27.
The case, has, however, been reassigned to him.
