By THEANALYSTNG
Full Text of press statement issued by Barr. Katu Abdullahi Sule,lead counsel to the Claimant over the misinformation in circulation, that the court declared ownership and control of the Identified Areas in favour of Isegba Obba Family of Felele.
Read the full Text ;
RE: Setting The Record Straight:Bala Namama and 2 Others Vs Alhaji Abdulkarim Hassan for Himself and on behalf of Isegba Obba family
By THEANALYSTNG
“Today being 9” April, 2025, the High Court of Justice, sitting at Koton Karfe dg tivered a judgment in the suit commenced by reps of Sarkin Noma, Kporoka and Danko Areas of Lokoja, Kog: State against isegba/Obba Family of Felele wherein the court declined jurisdiction in the suit.
Regrettably, our attention has being drawn to the malicious misinformation in circulation that the court declared ownership and control of the Identified Areas in favour of Isegba Obba Family of Felele.
This is incorrect, misleading and capable of breaching the age long peace and harmonious coexistence in Lokoja and it’s environ.
Consequently, we seek to make the following clarifications in other to set the record straight.
The Representatives of Sarkin Noma, Kporoka and Danko Areas of Lokoja, Kog State approached the High Court of Justice, sitting at Koton Karfe for the determination of effect of earlier judgments of the Court obtained in the absence of the claimant’s communities who are in actual possession and control of the lands since time immemorial. This is because, since the
judgments were obtained against strangers, and not any members of Sarkin Noma, Kproka and Danko Areas of Lokoja, Kogi State, the Ilsegba/Obba Family of Felele cannot seek to enforce them against the aforementioned communities who were not parties to the suits. Invariably, it is common logic that ‘you can’t shave a man’s head behind him’.
In the determination of the suit, and without getting into details or merit of the case, the court in its wisdom considered that since the earlier decisions in aforementioned cases were decided by courts of coordinate jurisdiction, It will be inappropriate for it to comment on the details of the case. This is because, courts of coordinate jurisdictions are deemed to be one and the same and should not be seen as reviewing its decision. The Court then proceeded to observe that the effects of the decisions paraded by the Isegba/Obba Family of Felele can only be determined by the court of Appeal which is a superior court to the High Court of Justice which decisions are paraded.
For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to reiterate clearly that the High Court of Justice Koton-Karfe in its judgment delivered today, Wednesday the 9th day of April, 2025 did not make any declaration of ownership or title to land in favour of Isegba/Obba Family of Felele or anyone else.
Additionally, no cost was awarded by the court in favour of the lsegba/Obba Family of Felele as is being illegally peddled around.
It is on the foregoing that we invite all well-meaning citizens to disregard the narratives that have being put in public domain by members of lsegba/Obba Family of Felele or anyone else suggesting that the court declared or affirmed their rights of ownership over the land and waters.
We implore everyone to remain calm and accordingly go about their lawful businesses.”
Signed: Barr. Katu Abdullahi Sule, EsqLEAD COUNSEL TO THE CLAIMANTS
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