News Nigeria

A Federal House of Representatives member from Takum/Ussa/Donga/Yangtu constituency of Southern Taraba, Rimande Shawulu, has called for truce between the Ichen speaking people of Jukun and the Tiv in the State. Ichen and the Tiv have lost no fewer than 100 persons in renewed crisis, which began in Donga local government area on Sunday. Properties estimated at millions have been reportedly destroyed. Thousands of both groups have been displaced, it was learnt. The Chairman of Ichen Cultural Association, Samuel Ahmed Bibinu, said he has lost 20 persons in the violence. He blamed the Tiv militia for the hostilities, adding that nine Ichen villages were torched. “Homes and foodstuffs worth millions of naira have been destroyed,” Bibinu said. He gave the names of the Ichen towns destroyed as: Gidan Adamu, Gankwe Bariki, Suntai Donga, Zambana, Sanso, Kwassa Sarki, Kwassa Sabo, Dadin Kowa, and Baka Koshi. But the Chairman of Tiv Cultural and Social Association in Taraba State, Goodman

The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a seven-man panel of Justices led by Justice Amina Augie, held that the Federal High Court in Lagos acted without jurisdiction when it convicted Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu. It held that trial Justice Mohammed Liman was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as at the time he sat and delivered the judgement that convicted the defendants for allegedly stealing about N7.1billion from Abia state treasury. According to the Supreme Court, Justice Liman, having been elevated to the Court of Appeal before then, lacked the powers to return to sit as a High Court Judge. It held that the Fiat that was issued to him by the Court of Appeal President pursuant to section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act was unconstitutional. Consequently, the apex court vacated the judgement that convicted the defendants and ordered fresh trial of the defendants

. Two villages in Donga Local Government have been burned down as a result of conflict between Tiv and Ichen in Mararaba. The conflict which escalated yesterday in Mararaba between the two tribes have resulted to the burning the Gida-adamu and Zambana Villages in Donga. Our correspondent who is in the area report that people from the nearby villages are seen running out of the town for there their lives. Investigation by our reporter revealed that over ten persons have lost their lives due to the crisis.