By Emmanuel Kwada
The State High Court in Yola, presided over by Justice Musa Usman, has rejected their application to stay proceedings in a legal challenge against the creation of the Fufore Emirate. The court dismissed the motions filed by the state government and the newly installed Emir of Fufore, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Ribadu, asserting its jurisdiction to hear the suit brought by three prominent titleholders of the Adamawa Emirate seeking to nullify the emirate’s creation.
The ruling sets the stage for a substantive trial scheduled for October 5 and 6, 2025, intensifying the ongoing controversy over chieftaincy reforms in Adamawa State.
The plaintiffs—Musa Halilu Ahmed (Dujima Adamawa), Mustapha Dahiru Mustapha (Yeriman Adamawa), and Mustapha Ahmad (Sarkin Noma Adamawa)—filed the suit to challenge the creation of the Fufore Emirate, arguing that it violates the Adamawa State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law and undermines the territorial integrity and cultural heritage of the Adamawa Emirate.
The defendants, including Governor Fintiri, the state government, the Attorney General, and Emir Ribadu, sought to halt the proceedings, citing a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal, Yola Division, challenging the High Court’s jurisdiction.
When I deliver my final judgment, you can always exercise your right of appeal, ixing October 5 and 6, 2025, for the substantive hearing
In his ruling, Justice Usman dismissed the applications, describing them as “frivolous” and aimed at obstructing the course of justice. He emphasized that the balance of probability favored the plaintiffs and that the defendants could exercise their right to appeal after the final judgment.
“When I deliver my final judgment, you can always exercise your right of appeal,” Justice Usman stated, fixing October 5 and 6, 2025, for the substantive hearing, during which the plaintiffs’ counsel is expected to present witnesses.
The plaintiffs’ lead counsel, Manga Nurudeen, SAN, hailed the court’s decision as a victory for justice, accusing the defense of resorting to technicalities to delay the case. “The defense has no case, and they know it. Instead of advising the government to dissolve the Fufore Emirate as a mistake and apologize to the people of the state, they are embroiled in trying to obstruct the cause of justice,” Nurudeen said outside the courtroom.
Instead of advising the government to dissolve the Fufore Emirate as a mistake and apologize to the people of the state, they are embroiled in trying to obstruct the cause of justice
He argued that the creation of the emirate was procedurally flawed and lacked legal backing under the state’s chieftaincy laws. On the other hand, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Afraimu K. Jingi, who leads the defense team, expressed frustration with the court’s handling of their preliminary objection on jurisdiction.
“We have always maintained that the court must first determine whether it has jurisdiction before proceeding further. In law, any proceedings carried out without jurisdiction are a nullity. We don’t want to waste the court’s time or our own time,” Jingi said.
He noted that the state government had hoped for a prompt ruling on the jurisdictional challenge but was disappointed that the court deferred it to be decided alongside the main judgment.
The Fufore Emirate, with Muhammad Sani Ribadu installed as its first emir on February 5, 2025, has been a focal point of contention
The defense has already filed an appeal, arguing that the jurisdictional issue must be resolved first. The defense’s appeal, filed at the Court of Appeal, Yola Division, faced procedural hurdles, as they were unable to transmit case records within the mandatory 60-day period, given that no ruling or judgment had been made by the trial court at the time of filing.
The creation of the Fufore Emirate, announced by Governor Fintiri on December 23, 2024, as part of a broader chieftaincy reform that included seven new emirates and chiefdoms, has sparked widespread controversy in Adamawa State.
The plaintiffs contend that the emirate, carved out of the Adamawa Emirate, violates legal and traditional norms, threatening the historical and cultural legacy of the region. The Adamawa Emirate, encompassing Yola North, Yola South, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, and Song LGAs, is one of the state’s most prominent traditional institutions, and the plaintiffs argue that its territorial integrity is being eroded.
The Fufore Emirate, with Muhammad Sani Ribadu installed as its first emir on February 5, 2025, has been a focal point of contention, with critics accusing the state government of political motivations. The plaintiffs’ suit names Governor Fintiri, the Adamawa State Government, the state Chief Judge, Hapsat Abdulrahman, and Emir Ribadu as defendants, alleging that the emirate’s creation was arbitrary and lacked consultation with traditional stakeholders.
The Adamawa Emirate, encompassing Yola North, Yola South, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, and Song LGAs
The creation of new emirates and chiefdoms, including Fufore, Maiha, Hoba, Madagali, Michika, Gombi, and Yungur, was presented as a move to decentralize traditional governance and promote local development. However, it has faced resistance from traditional leaders and communities who view it as a politicization of revered institutions.
As the case moves to trial on October 5 and 6, 2025, all eyes will be on the plaintiffs’ presentation of evidence and witnesses to substantiate their claims. The outcome of the suit could set a precedent for the legality of chieftaincy reforms in Adamawa and potentially influence similar disputes across Nigeria. For now, the rejection of the stay of proceedings has emboldened the plaintiffs, while the state government and its allies prepare for a contentious legal battle.
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