Alhaji Isa Noekoer V. Executive Governor Of Plateau State & Ors (2018)

LAWGLOBAL HUB Lead Judgment Report

AMIRU SANUSI, J.S.C.

The appellant herein, lodged this appeal against the judgment of Jos division of the Court of Appeal [“the Lower Court” or “Court below”] delivered on the 9th day of December, 2014 which had earlier affirmed the judgment of the High Court of justice, Plateau State [the trial Court] delivered on 20th of May, 2013.

The Kwalla District of Qua’an Pan local government of Plateau State, as at the time material to this case, had six villages each having a village head as its traditional head/leader. Each of the six village heads was by law eligible to contest the stool of the district head of Kwalla district in the event of having a vacancy of the stool.

On the 16th of May, 2001, the appellant, who was the village Head of Shangfu, contested for the stool of District Head of Kwalla following a vacancy of that stool along with one Michael Lapang who was the village head of Chun village. The appellant was declared winner having scored 3 votes as against the 2 votes scored by the said Michael Lapang and was accordingly declared winner.

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Dissatisfied with the outcome of the selection/election exercise, Michael Lapang took out a Writ of Summons and filed an amended statement of claim against the defendant, now appellant who was 6th Defendant and the 1st-5th respondents who were the 1st-5th defendants in the said suit before the High Court of Plateau State [the trial Court].

At the end of the trial, the learned trial judge entered judgment in favour of Michael Lapang. Dissatisfied with the judgment, the appellant together with 1st-5th respondents filed an appeal against the said judgment, Mr. Lapang also filed a cross appeal [See pages 61-66) of the record of appeal.

Before the appeal and the cross appeal could be heard, Michael Lapang died and consequently, the appellant’s counsel withdrew the appeal and both the appeal and the cross appeal were subsequently struck out.

After the withdrawal and subsequent striking out of the appeal and cross appeal, the 1st-5th respondents got prepared to take steps to comply with the order of the trial High Court to conduct fresh election to the stool of Kwalla District Head. Thereupon, the 6th respondent petitioned against the continued stay of the appellant

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in office as District Head of Kwalla in spite of the subsisting judgment of the trial High Court which has described the selection of the appellant as contrary to native law and custom and the gazette regularising the selection and appointment of person to fill the vacant stool of Kwalla District head.

Before the 1st-5th respondents could conclude the preparations to conduct fresh election, the appellant took out an Originating Summons against all the present respondents raising four questions for determination as shown on pages 76 to 153 of the record of appeal. At the end of the trial, judgment was entered against the appellant [See pages 341-250 of the record].

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the trial Court, the appellant appealed to the Court below, albeit unsuccessfully, hence a further appeal to the Supreme Court.

Parties filed and exchanged briefs of argument. The learned counsel for the appellant filed brief of argument on behalf of the appellant on 19th October, 2015 dated 28/9/2015. The said brief of argument was settled by one Edwin O. Okoro Esq. In the appellant’s brief, two issues were identified for the determination of this appeal which read as below:-