Traditional Title Holders Challenge Court Ruling on Fufore Emirate, Head to Appeal Court

By Emmanuel Kwada

Three prominent traditional title holders of the Adamawa Emirate have filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal, Yola Division, challenging a High Court judgment that struck out their suit against the creation of the Fufore Emirate and the appointment of its Emir.

The appellants; Alhaji Musa Halilu Ahmed (Dujiman Adamawa), Alhaji Mustapha Dahiru Mustapha (Yeriman Adamawa), and Alhaji Mustapha Ahmadu (Sarkin Noma Adamawa) lodged the appeal on Tuesday, seeking to overturn the March 3, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Musa Usman of the Adamawa State High Court in Suit No. HC/ADSY/14/2025.

The High Court had dismissed the case on procedural grounds after the appellants challenged the establishment of the Fufore Emirate and the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Sani Ahmadu Ribadu as its Emir.

According to a statement issued on behalf of the appellants by Prof. Alkasum Abba, the appeal contests the entire judgment on nine grounds, arguing that the trial court erred in law on several key issues.

Among the grounds of appeal are claims that the court wrongly ruled the suit incompetent for failure to serve a pre-action notice despite what the appellants described as the urgency of the matter, and that it incorrectly held that they lacked the legal standing to institute the action despite their positions as senior traditional title holders within the Adamawa Emirate.

The appellants also contend that the trial judge improperly shifted the burden of proof to them instead of requiring the respondents to demonstrate compliance with Section 5(1) of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law of Adamawa State, 2024, which mandates consultation with relevant stakeholders before the creation of a new emirate.

They further argued that the court failed to consider oral testimonies from members of the Adamawa Emirate Council who allegedly stated under oath that the council was not consulted before the establishment of the Fufore Emirate.

In addition, the appellants maintained that the court did not adequately address their constitutional claims under Sections 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 22(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The appellants are asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the High Court judgment and, under its powers provided by Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act, determine the substantive issues in the suit.

Specifically, they are seeking orders nullifying Adamawa State Legal Notice No. 56 of 2024, which created the Fufore Emirate from the existing Adamawa Emirate, setting aside the inauguration of the emirate and its council, restraining the Emir of Fufore from presenting himself in that capacity, and restoring the Adamawa Emirate to its former structure under the leadership of the Lamido of Adamawa.

They are also seeking an award of costs against the respondents.

The appellants stated that they remain committed to pursuing all available legal avenues in what they described as a defence of the customary, traditional and constitutional integrity of the Adamawa Emirate.

The appeal is being handled by Sabiq Legal Practitioners on behalf of the appellants.