The Federal High Court, Abuja on
Wednesday fixed June 21, to rule on a suit seeking the proscription of Fulani
herdsmen as a terrorist organisation.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole fixed
the date after listening to an ex-parte application filed by a Makurdi- based
legal practitioner, Mr Matthew Nyiutsa.
Nyiutsa is seeking the leave of
court to compel President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney -General of the
Federation (AGF) to move a court of competent jurisdiction to proscribe
herdsmen as a terrorist group.
He said that this was with
particular reference to the herdsmen operating in Benue.
Nyiutsa, who appeared in person,
told the court that he was a victim of the continued attacks by “Fulani
herdsmen” on communities in Benue which resulted in the death of more than 200
persons and the destruction of private and public properties.
“Properties such as residential
houses, hospitals/clinics, churches, schools, bridges and markets worth
billions of naira have been destroyed.
“The herdsmen have also caused
grievous bodily injuries to several hundreds of people as well as take-over
ancestral houses of displaced persons in Mbadwen, Uvir, Mbabai, Nyier and Mbayer/Yandev
among others,” he said.
He submitted that the series of
armed attacks particularly from Jan 1, to May, on inhabitants of communities in
Guma, Logo, Makurdi, Gwer-East, Buruku, Tarka, Katsina-Ala and Ukum Local
government Areas of Benue were acts of terrorism.
This according to him is as
defined under Section 1(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 as amended.
Nyiutsa further submitted that
his right to ventilate his predicament under Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution
must be preserved and protected by the court.
He urged the court to grant the
application so that it could be heard on its merits.
The plaintiff in the suit is
demanding the sum of N50 million as exemplary damages against the respondents.
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