Justice Bakfur Adjourns 17 LGAs Suspension Case To 23rd September, Urges Falana To Caution Claimants

Yakubu Busari

Justice Bakfur has adjourned the 17 Plateau LGAs’ suspension against the State to the 23^rd of September.

Meanwhile, Justice S. J. Bakfur yesterday expressed disappointment with the conduct of supporters over insightful utterances against him by calling on the counsels to caution them who are the claimants that are passing unholy allegations against his personality.

Bakfur stated thus that, the fact that I am in the same local government as Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang doesn’t mean that he would pass a ruling in his favour because they’re from the same place, what I observe is that the claimants are blackmailing me that I shall compromise my position as a judge.

He warned; “I won’t tolerate that nonsense as a leader in the temple of justice, we have rules guiding our conduct so everyone should not be thinking that the court always takes sides is totally wrong.

Bakfur stated that he has integrity and he won’t allow anyone to get involved in anything that would come here and scandalized the judiciary integrity.

According to him, I am also proceeding on vacation so there is a limitation for me to handle this Local Government’s suspension case file to its final conclusion.

However, the claimants’ counsel, Femi Falana also agreed with the court that the matter should be taken after the vacation to avoid repeated ruling on two issues of interlocutory injunction and the application seeking to join in the suit by the Chairman of Langtang North. Barr Zulfa Rimven .

He cautioned the counsel claimants should warn them against inflammatory comments that the court would compromise its judgment position.

The Seventeen Local Government Chairmen and councilors have sought the audience of the Plateau State High Court order to join in the case filed by the 17 LGAs , on their suspension in office as executive chairmen by Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang .

The counsel Zulfa Rimven  , Emmanuel Hassan , Esq told the court that they have a fresh application seeking to be joined as parties have been served on them already.

However, the claimant’s counsel, Femi Falana told the court that they were served on Thursday last week and it is subject to the convenience of the court as he seeks the leave of the court to seven days to react because we are still within time.

The defendant’s counsel, K.M. Malan also confirmed that they were served on the 27th of July 2023 on his client Governor and Attorney General of Plateau state.

Malan said he won’t oppose their application to join the suit now or in the future at the same time.

Justice Bakfur adjourns for the continuation of the hearing but stresses that the file shall be returned back to the Chief Judge, Hon.Justice David Mann’s office.