The Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, the state capital, has adjourned to August 30, hearing the suit filed by the federal lawmaker representing Jos East/Jos Federal Constituency challenging Governor Simon Lalong, the state government, and the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice over the MoU signed with Jaiz Bank to rebuild the Jos Main Market.
The Jos Main market was burnt in 2002 and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
There had been controversy on the rebuilding of the market with individuals and groups in the state disagreeing with government plan to sign an MoU with Jaiz Bank to rebuild the market.
The state government had on August 11, in its grounds of response to the suit titled “PLD/J424/2022,” filed by Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos, challenging its planned reconstruction of the market, said the court lacks jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter.
However, when the matter came up for hearing yesterday, counsel to the claimant, Niri Darong, told the court that the matter was slated for hearing today (Monday) and the defendants in their reaction to the originating summon had chosen to file preliminary objections and to allow notice of originating summon on the fact that two applications shouldn’t be taken together.
Barr Darong told the court that they gave the objectors space of time to file their response which is within 21 days on notice.
Speaking on the suit, the Attorney-General of Plateau State, Chrysanthus Ahmadu, said Hon Musa Bagos had no right to sue the government on such a situation as he (Bagos) was an ordinary citizen.
After listening to the two parties, the presiding judge, S. P. Gang, adjourned the matter to August 30.
