Sum Pyem stool: Lawyers seek enforcement of S/Court judgement

Lawyers to the Sum-Pyem-elect of Pyem chiefdom in Gindiri, Mangu Local Government of Plateau State, Architect Hudu Ibrahim Manomi have indicated their intention to pursue the enforcement of the judgement of the Supreme Court restoring him to the stool. In a letter to the Attorney General of Plateau State dated November 8, 2019 and signed […]

Lawyers to the Sum-Pyem-elect of Pyem chiefdom in Gindiri, Mangu Local Government of Plateau State, Architect Hudu Ibrahim Manomi have indicated their intention to pursue the enforcement of the judgement of the Supreme Court restoring him to the stool.

In a letter to the Attorney General of Plateau State dated November 8, 2019 and signed on behalf of the law firm of Abimiku and Company by Justin Chuwang, the firm sought the consent of the office to enforce the judgment delivered on February 1, 2019.

Following the judgement, Manomi through his lawyers forwarded a certified copy of the judgement to the Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong dated February 15, 2019 seeking an executive seal to the favorable verdict. He pleaded Governor Lalong to give directive for the implementation of the apex court’s decision. But the executive directive has not been forthcoming nine months on.

In the lead judgement read by Justice Mary Odili, the apex court granted all the prayers of Manomi, including his payment of his outstanding entitlements, and dismissed the appeal by two members of the royal house, Joseph Mato Dakat and J.C.K. Mallum who had challenged the eligibility of Manomi and the selection process.

“A free and fair election was conducted with virtually all but one traditional selector and the 1st appellant (Manomi) emerged as the winner of the election out of the two contestants. To my mind, there was substantial compliance with the enabling instrument guiding the selection exercise i.e. Exhibit 9,” the apex court panel held.

“The mere non-issuance of seven days’ notice, allowing the presence of officials not approved by Exhibit 9 and the exclusion of 12th selectors are of no moment and can not vitiate the election exercise or affect the result of the exercise as held by the lower court. These two issues are therefore resolved against the respondents in favour of the appellants.”

However, the state government on October 24 said the judgement of the apex court merely restored the declaratory judgment of the Plateau State High Court in 2004.

In the statement, the Commissioner for Information, Dan Manjan said the judgment went no further to pronounce Manomi as eligible to contest the stool on May 17, 2004, and has no specific directive for compliance.

“The judgement of the State High Court which the Supreme Court restored contained no order nullifying the selection of the current Sum-Pyem which was conducted on 26th November 2013. It contained no order directing the Governor of Plateau State, the Mangu Local Government Council or any government agency to install Arch. Hudu Manomi as Sum-Pyem,” the commissioner said.

The commissioner said the selection of Dakat as the current Sum-Pyem is presumed regular until the contrary is proven, adding that he (Dakat) was a beneficiary of an official act by the past governor of the state.

In the letter to the Attorney General of the state, Chuwang said the Manomi was validly selected to occupy the office of the Sum-Pyem elect. He said the process by the kingmakers to the royal stool was in line with the Legal Notice No 1 of 1992 contained in the Plateau State Gazette dealing with the Appointment and Deposition of Chiefs (Appointment of Sum Pyem) Order 23rd April, 1992 (as amended).