Tension is brewing in Jalingo-Maiha District of Adamawa State over the return of the removed district head, Yarima Wakili Usman Shehu. Shehu who was appointed by Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla was removed last month by a Yola High Court presided over by Justice Hafsat Abdurrahman who faulted his appointment in her judgement as “wrongful, illegal, null and void”.
The judge also directed that Mahmud Abubakar who brought the matter to court was the duly selected district head nominated by the kingmakers and that the governor should approve him for appointment as district head of Jalingo-Maiha.
However, Adamawa state government was yet to comply with the court judgement while the removed district head who had left the area some weeks ago had returned a development that led to tension in the area, particularly between his supporters and that of Mahmud Abubakar. Some concerned indigenes of Jalingo-Maiha District had petitioned the State Commissioner of Police over threat to peace with the return of Shehu and urged Adamawa government to comply with the court order in the interest of peace and justice.
The concerned citizens numbering 119 said urgent measures needed to be taken before the tension in the area would degenerate into violence.
“We are calling on government to be proactive in addressing this security risk situation in Jalingo-Maiha before it gets out of hand”, they said It will be recalled that Mahmud Abubakar who was nominated by the district kingmakers had dragged the governor, Mubi Emirate Council, Yarima Wakili Usman Shehu and Attorney General of the state to court over the appointment of Shehu as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha in Maiha Local Government Area.
In her Judgment, Justice Abdulrahman said “Mahmud Abubakar had proved that he was eligible and was duly selected among other applicants for the district head stool by village heads in Maiha, who conducted the selection exercise under the supervision of representatives from Mubi Emirate Council.““
That the approval of the 3rd defendant (Yarima Wakili Usman Shehu. by the governor of Adamawa State as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha district, Maiha Local Government Area who was not the person recommended by the 2nd defendant (, Mubi Emirate Council) is wrongful, illegal, null and void. “That the plaintiff whose name was forwarded to the Governor of Adamawa State for approval by the 2nd defendant, is the proper person to be approved for appointment as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha District.“
“It is hereby ordered that the Governor of Adamawa State (1st defendant) should approve the plaintiff as the proper person for appointment as District Head of Jalingo-Maiha District.““An order of perpetual injunction is hereby given, restraining the 3rd defendant (Yarima Wakili Usman Shehu) from parading himself as district head of Jalingo-Maiha District, Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State,” the court ruled.
Source: Vanguard
