By: Godwin Kingsley, Lafia The counsel representing Nasarawa State government at the on-going Ombatse suit, J. S Okutepa has told the court that the group does not have the legitimacy to sue the state government for abuse of fundamental human right.
Okutepa made the said this on Friday while speaking to newsmen at the High Court 1, Lafia.
According to him” they ombatse’s counsel, Zachary Zamani Allumuga, is claiming that they brought an application on behalf of ombatse group and that ombatse is a person.
But, I searched with my lenses to find where I can find a copy of a certificate of incorporation and I couldn’t find it, which means they are not registered.
He added that” it is only human beings or association with certificate of incorporation that has the capacity to sue and be sued. But, once you are not a registered group, then you are operating an illegal institution.
But, counsel to Ombatse group, Allumuga, countered the State counsel’s claim, arguing that he has the locus standi to sue the state government for the abuse of his group’s fundamental human right.
He added that, the group has not been proscribed following the representation of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura by the Permanent Secretary Planning Commission at Alogani hill on February 27, 2013 after its proscription on November 19, 2012.
Earlier at the court’s sitting, the Ombatse counsel prayed the honourable court presided over by Justice Umar Dikko to adjourn the sitting stating that his counsel was sick and couldn’t appear in
court.
Allumuga also sort for permission from the honourable court to present a video clip which he stated in his affidavit to the court as an exhibit.
Responding, the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Umaru Dikko expressed dismay at Allumuga’s request saying the exhibit was supposed to have been presented before the court’s sitting.
He however, answered the Ombatse counsel’s prayer and adjourned the case to March 7, 2014 for hearing.
