Forum condemns court judgment ceding Lokoja to Igala Kingdom

Lokoja Forum of Patriots has strongly condemned the judgment of a Federal High Court, ceding Lokoja Ajaokuta and Koton Karfe Federal Constituency to the Igala Kingdom.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that the forum’s position is contained in a communique read today, Tuesday June 9, by its Chairman, Alhaji Baba’ango Idris, at the end of the forum’s meeting in Lokoja.

According to Idris, the judgement tempered with the, “rights of the original owners and custodians of the affected areas”.

The Forum called on the Federal Government to appeal the judgment for, “the interest of peace and unity in Kogi State and the country at large.”

They said they are in support of the decisions reached by Hon. Shaba Ibrahim, Member Representing Lokoja Kogi Federal Constituency and other stakeholders from the affected areas.

The communique reads:

“COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUE BY LOKOJA FORUM OF PATRIOTS AFTER AN EMERGENCY MEETING HELD AY ITS SECRETARIAT ON 6TJ JUNE, 2020.

Following the judgment of the federal High Court of Nigeria setting Lokoja, ceding  Lokoja, Ajaokuta and Kogi Local Government areas to Igala Kingdom, Lokoja Forum of Patriots held an emergency meeting at it secretariat in Lokoja on 6th of  June 2020 and issued the following communique :

(1) That, forum without prejudice condemn in strong term the judgment of the Federal high court of Nigeria sitting in Lokoja in all its entirety

(2) That the Forum observe that the judgment has tempered with the rights of the original owners and custodians of the affected Areas as contained in the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria 1999( as amended) and the land use Act of 1998.

(3) That the forum without prejudice observed that the federal high court sitting in Lokoja lacks the jurisdiction to entertain and pass judgment over land matters.

(4) That, this action at this century is not only tempering on the rights of the people but trying to make them to start  re- writing a new history for their ancestors, themselves and their  generations yet unborn.

(5) That, Forum appreciates the quick reaction of  His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya  Adoza Bello, the Governor of Kogi state in the matter where upon he warmed against people wanting to divide the state against ethnic line, saying that, ” There’s no room for imperialism in the 20th century “

(6) That, the forum calls of the Federal Government without further delay to immediately appeal the judgment.

(7) That, Forum is in strong support of all decisions and agreements reached in the press conference organized by some stakeholders from the three affected Local Government Areas ,honourably presided over by Hon. Shaba Ibrahim, member representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency.

(8) Finally, Members of Lokoja Forum of Patriots call for calm from the indigenes of the affected local government areas to allow all legal processes be followed so as to get to the logical conclusion of this matter.” the communique concluded.

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