Pam Moses

Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, has on Monday adjourned to the 30th August 2022 for the continuation of hearing on a suit filed by Member Representing Jos East /Jos Federal Constituency in the National Assembly Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos challenged Governor Simon Lalong, the State Government, the Attorney General of Plateau State and the Commissioner for Justice over the Planned signing of an MoU with Jaiz Bank to rebuild the Jos Main Market Authority.

The Jos Main market was burnt down during the crisis of 2001 with over 3700 shops destroyed which had affected the sources of livelihood of traders in the market 20 years ago.

Hon. Bagos had secured a court injunction at the Plateau State High Court, restraining the state government from signing an MOU with Jaiz Bank on the reconstruction of the Jos Main Market.

The injunction, which was granted on 2nd August 2022 by Justice S. P Gang, restrained Governor Samuel Lalong, the state government and Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Plateau State from signing any MOU with Jaiz Bank pending a hearing of the substantive suit.

However, when the matter came up for hearing on Monday, Counsel to claimant /applicant, Barr. Niri Darong told the court that the defendants in his reaction to their originating surmount have chosen to file preliminary Objections (P.O) and to allow notice of originating surmount on the fact that two applications shouldn’t take together respectively.

According to him, the counsel claimant /applicant says they filed their originating surmount dated 9/8/2022 and the notice of P.O also 9/8/2022 and was served on the objectors which they filed their counter affidavit in a response dated 15/8/2022, adding that the objectors also filed another dated 3/8/2022 in response to the notice of originating surmount.

Niri Darong told the court that they gave the objectors space of time to file their response which is within 21 days of notice, adding the P.O filed by defendants challenging the court for lack of jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

Speaking on the suit filed, Barr. Niri Darong said the learned Attorney General of Plateau state said Hon Bagos has no locus standing meaning has no right to sue regarding so many breaches of several agreements in the proposed MoU with the Jaiz bank.

He explained further that the constitution has given every citizen of Nigeria the right to challenge any act of government, saying the Lawmaker under the act of his present office has the right to defend the right of his people and that of his constituents and State.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the State, who is also the Commissioner of Justice Plateau State, Barr. Chrisantus agreed that the originating surmount and existing surmount be taken together

President Judge Justice S. P Gang graciously granted the adjournment to the 30th August 2022 for the continuation of the hearing.

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Jos High Court adjourned Hon. Bagos case against Plateau Government and Jaiz Bank to 30th August