By Our correspondent

Executive Chairman of Langtang North Local government of Plateau state Barrister Zulfa Bitrus Rimven on Monday described the judgement obtained by the Immediate past Chairman of the Council as a miscarriage of justice, insisting that he remained the authentic chairman of the council.

Zulfa who addressed newsmen in Jos said he recall that Hon. Ubandoma Joshua Laven had addressed newsmen wherein he raised so many issues relating to the judgment he obtained.

The Chairman Hon Zulfa said that the said press conference by Laven is littered with false accusations, half truths and unfounded allegations levelled against his humble self and the Government of the day.

“I am the Chairman of our council and even the Ex Chairman Laven knows that ,I followed the process,an election was conducted In my council in which I won landslide, I was issued a certificate by the electoral empire saddled with the responsibility that’s the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) and was sworn in by the Executive arm.

Zulfa added that One can quickly pardon him for his comments on some of the legal issues involved in the judgment he obtained as he is not a lawyer. Consequently, it will be an extension of common sense too far to expect him to understand the concept of legal proceedings and procedure.

In his words Zulfa added that “As a Lawyer that I am, I will not be discharging my duty of enlightening the public on legal issues if I allow the Babylonian confusion released by Ubandoma Joshua Laven in his press conference to fester. It is for this reason and many more that I must respond to the press conference to clarify the issues involved.

First, I must state in unambiguous terms that neither myself nor Langtang North Local Government Area is a party to the suit and the judgment obtained by Ubandoma.

” I am very much aware that Ubandoma does not know, but I will take the pain to explain to him in a language he can understand that judgments cannot be executed against non – parties.

He said that “The Law in this regard has not changed, that judgments cannot be enforced against persons who are not parties to the suit. ” Had Ubandoma wanted to execute his judgment against me or Langtang North Local Government Area, he would have sued me and Langtang North Local Government Area as parties to his suit. But, he didn’t. To my mind, this is an elementary principle of common sense that needs no interpretation by any Lawyer.

Second, the judgment obtained by Ubandoma has already been appealed against and the Notice and Grounds of Appeal adequately served on Ubandoma. It is not a Motion on Notice alone that has been served on him as he alleges. Well I don’t expect him to understand the nature and nomenclature of the documents served on him, after all, he is not a Lawyer. These issues and the documents in this regard are public records that any member of the public can apply to have them. It is not something happening in the dark. May I use this opportunity to school Ubandoma without pay, that once there is an appeal against a judgment, parties are expected not to tamper with the status quo in order not to render the judgment of the Appellate Court nugatory. In this regard, the legal procedure is for Ubandoma to be patient to allow all the legal processes to be exhausted before he can shout ‘uhuru’.

Thirdly, upon obtaining judgment from the Court, it is not for the party who has obtained judgment to enforce same (as did Ubandoma), it is for the Court Sheriffs, in company of Law Enforcement Agents to enforce same against persons who are party to the said judgment. The resort to self – help by Ubandoma and his supporters by destroying part of the main gate leading to Langtang North Local Government Area is an act of criminality; and if Ubandoma is being prosecuted for it, then he should deal with it. In law, the maxim is “Ignorantia Legis Noninem Excusat” meaning ‘Ignorance of the law is not an excuse’. No matter the beauty of the judgment obtained, it is not a license for one to exhibit his village rascality on public property. The Law Enforcement Agencies will always be there to ensure such attitude is curtailed.

Fourth, Ubandoma has leveled so many false accusations against the Government of the day, I must quickly educate him on this too, or else, posterity will not forgive me. The judiciary is an independent arm of government governed by its rules and regulations. Once a party approaches the Court for a remedy, he must be patient enough to allow the processes and procedures of such to take its full course. Government of the day has nothing to do with what Ubandoma is accusing it of. Government is equally patiently allowing the legal process to take its full course, having been sued by Ubandoma. The accusations levelled against Government of the day is just Ubandoma’s way of exhibiting ignorance of the legal process.

Fifth, it is imperative to state at this juncture that unless and until there is a judgment against me or Langtang North Local Government Area, the judgment obtained by Ubandoma has nothing to do with me or my office as the Executive Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area. The judgment obtained by Ubandoma is against PLASIEC, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF PLATEAU STATE, GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE AND MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS.

Zulfa further added that if Laven Ubandoma claims that he is a man of Conscience and that his tenure has not expired ,then why did he contest in the PDP primaries build up to the Council election that produced me as the Executive Chairman of Langtang North Council, which his name was forward to PLASIEC until a court order barred his party from contesting the recently concluded Council polls .

“This has shown that he is a man of desperation, he is not a man of integrity at all.”

“Laven and his party the PDP do not have integrity and I advise them to stop misleading the general public, the PDP do not deserve to be given the chance to govern the people of Langtang North , Plateau and Nigeria again, our party the APC is taking Nigeria to greater heights” he stressed.

He added that “Consequently, my position as Executive Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area is not affected in any way. The sealing of the Local Government Secretariat by the Police is just to ensure that there is no further destruction of public property by Ubandoma and his supporters.

Hon Zulfa further called on all his supporters to remain calm as the situation is under control.

He also called on his brother, Ubandoma to remain calm and to allow the legal process to take its course.

“I am the chairman of the council and I am still carrying out my duties to impact positively on my people as well as provide dividends of democracy to them.

He called on the people of the Council to continue to support him and the All Progressive Congress led government at all times.

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I remain authentic Chairman Langtang North Council – Barrister Zulfa Rimven