Members of Tumu community of Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State have dragged the State Gombe Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Emir of Pindiga, Ahmed Seyoji Mohammed, and others before the State High Court, alleging the stoppage of the Central Mosque being reconstructed by the Senator representing Gombe Central, Senator Danjuma Goje.
Joined alongside Governor Yahaya and the Emir as defendants in the suit are the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and his counterpart in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
A group of the residents under the auspices of “Tumu Concerned Residents” filed the suit on behalf of the community to express their grievances over stopping of the reconstruction of the Central Mosque.
The suit was filed on behalf of residents of the community aggrieved by the denial of the Mosque’s reconstruction project by Mohammed Yero, Bello Ali Tumu and Danjuma A. Mukhtari. They are requesting the Court to restrain the defendants from depriving the community of the development initiative.
The originating summons was brought pursuant to Sections 14(1), 24(d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) and Articles 13(3), 17(2), 22(1)(2), and 24 of Chapter 1 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, 2004.
The summons read: “Let the 1st and 2nd Defendants of Emirs Palace Pindiga Gombe State 3rd Defendants, Akko L.G.A Secretariat Kumo, Gombe State, 4th Defendants of Gombe State, 5th Defendants of Ministry of Justice, Commercial Area Gombe State, 6th Defendants, Government House, Gombe State within Eight (8) days after service of this summons on him, inclusive of the day of such service cause an appearance to be entered for him to this summons which is issued upon the application of MOHAMMED YERO, BELLO ALI TUMU and DANJUMA A. MUKHTARI for themselves and on behalf of the concerned Residents of Tumu town, Akko LGA, Gombe State who claim to be aggrieved by efforts of the 1st and 2nd Defendants to reject the well intentioned move of Senator Muhammed Danjuma Goje to rehabilitate and/or reconstruct the Central Jumuat Mosque Tumu.”
It further stated: “The state of disrepair of the mosque is clearly deserving of such meaningful intervention, for the determination of the following questions: 1. Whether the 1st summons which is issued upon the application of MOHAMMED YERO, BELLO ALI TUMU and DANJUMA A. MUKHTARI for themselves and on behalf of the concerned Residents of Tumu town, Akko LGA, Gombe State who claim to be aggrieved by efforts of the 1 and 2 Defendants to reject the well intentioned move of Senator Muhammed Danjuma Goje to rehabilitate and/or reconstruct the Central Jumuat Mosque Tumu.
“The state of disrepair of the mosque is clearly deserving of such meaningful intervention, for the determination of the following questions: Whether the 1st and 2nd Defendants are acting ultra vires when they purport to speak the minds of Tumu People without due consultation. Whether the Plaintiffs are entitled to desire an improvement on the current condition of the central jumuat mosque being members of Tumu town.”
They also contended that “If the answers to the questions raised above are in the affirmative, the Plaintiffs seek the following reliefs: A Declaration that the Tumu community is entitled to receive donations from well-meaning individuals in furtherance of its community development and safety initiatives.
“A Declaration that Exhibit T1 is null, void and of no legal effect whatsoever. An Order restraining the Defendants and everyone deriving authority through them from interfering with the development initiative of the Tumu community as it relates to the community’s central jumu’at mosque.”
The summons was taken out by Adam Abdulkadir, Esq Legal Practitioner for the above-named.
The defendants may appear hereto by entering appearance personally or by legal practitioner either by handing in the appropriate forms duly completed, at the High Court Registry of the Gombe Juditial Division, Gombe State, or by sending them to that office by post.
If the defendants do not enter appearance within the time and at the place above mentioned, such orders will be made and proceedings may be taken as the Judge may think just and expedient.
It could be recalled that an aide to Senator Goje, Adamu Mohammed Manga has recently made the allegation while addressing the residents of the community.
According to him, the Emir allegedly stopped the reconstruction of the Central Mosques located near his palace and that of Tumu over fear of the state governor, Inuwa Yahaya.
Mohammed Manga was seen in a viral video clip saying that the Emir has told him unequivocally that if he allows the project to be done by the Senator, Governor Inuwa will dethrone him.
The controversy arose because the political relationship between Danjuma Goje, a former Governor of Gombe State, and the incumbent Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, had gone sour before the 2023 general elections and all efforts to reconcile them by the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had always hit hard rocks.
Inuwa Yahaya was the Commissioner of Finance for the eight years when Danjuma Goje was Governor and was believed to be instrumental to his election as Governor in 2019 before the break in their relationship.