BY: MUHAMMMAD NURA TSAFE, MINNA
The concerned residents of the Muye community in Lapai local government area have urged the Niger state governor, Farmer Umar Mohammed Bago, to intervene in the ongoing crisis between the Amana Kakanda Village head and the Lapai Emirates.
Their spokesperson, Abdulkareem Mustapha, addressed journalists during a press conference and submitted a petition to newsmen in Minna, the capital of Niger State, stated that the calls were necessary to bring about peace in the Muye community.
Mustapha highlighted key figures mentioned in the petition, including State Commissioner of Police, CP Ebenezer Shawulu, and Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy, Jantabo Mu’azu, whom they accuse of exacerbating the situation leading to the arrest of Amana of Kakanda/Village head Alhaji Abdulkadir Maigari.
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He said, “We, the people of Muye, are peace-loving people, and with the current situation in the state of insecurity issues, this issue in Muye if not tackled in time, it may escalate into a serious confrontation.”
The petitioners alleged that the crisis stemmed from the Village head’s decision to mark his five-year anniversary and use a trumpet during festivals, generating high tension between the Amana Kakanda Village head and the Lapai Emirates.
Mustapha further stated that it resulted in police intervention where he was asked to write undertaking, and despite the Village head’s compliance with all the directives, he was still arrested.
Mustapha, therefore, called upon the governor to intervene swiftly, emphasizing their belief in his ability to resolve the dispute amicably.
According to Abdulkareem Mustapha, the ongoing legal battle between Amana Kakanda Village head and Lapai Emirates was initiated during Mu’azu Jantabo’s tenure as Lapai local government chairman.
Mustapha pleaded with the Bago-led administration to assist in defusing tensions, particularly as the Village head remains detained, underscoring the urgency of the matter.
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Despite attempts to reach Commissioner Mu’azu and the police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, for clarification, no response was received at the time of reporting for the massage sent.
In 2021, the Lapai Emirates issued a sacking letter to the Village head of Muye, Abdulkadir Maigari, stating the village head had breached the Emirates’ traditional council law despite several warnings.
The Secretary of the emirate, Ibrahim Sheikh, said the emirate had written to the Niger State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on May 28, 2021, seeking the approval of the then Governor Abubakar Bello, to remove Maigari as the village head of Muye.
The village head, alongside some title holders from Muye, then filed a suit at the high court through his Counsel, N. A Tanko and A. N Musu, challenging his removal while praying for the court to declare his dismissal illegal, null and void.
After losing in the High Court, the concerned people of Muye appealed the judgment to seek justice.
In the appeal, the court directed the 2nd defendant to pay to the 1st plaintiff all his arrears of salaries as the village head of Muye on grade level 07/06 from 15th April 2020 when he was appointed till 20th May 2021 when he was removed/dismissed.
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The complainants sought eight reliefs from the court to reinstall the embattled village head and effect payment of his withheld salary arrears.
They also prayed for the court to declare that the traditional ruler is the Amana of Kakanda/village head of Muye and therefore, cannot be punished/sanctioned for acts or omissions not provided for in law while claiming that he was not given a fair hearing before his dismissal.