A Plateau State High Court in Jos has postponed its ruling on an appeal that challenges a judgment recognising Hausa people born in Jos North Local Government Area as indigenes. Justice C.
Donglong set the new hearing date for October 29, 2026, on Friday after listening to arguments on whether a new legal team could represent the respondents.
The case stems from a June 9, 2026, ruling by the same court that found Hausa-born residents of Jos North qualify for indigene status. The original dispute began when the local government council rejected an application for an indigene certificate from Fatima Baba Akawu.
Fatima and her father, Baba Alhaji Akawu, sued Jos North Local Government Council after their request was denied. They wanted the court to confirm that Fatima, born in the area to a father they claimed was a recognised indigene, deserved the certificate despite her Hausa background.
The claimants also alleged the council acted unlawfully by issuing a residence certificate to Fatima while granting an indigene certificate to Dung Bot, a Berom person, on the same day. They argued this violated constitutional protections against discrimination under Sections 42, 15 and 17 of the 1999 Constitution and international human rights instruments.
Baba Alhaji Akawu served as a House of Representatives member for the area in 1983, the claimants noted. They said this earlier recognition of his indigene status should automatically qualify his children for similar certificates, they told the court.
On Friday, the council's lawyer, Garba Pwul, SAN, objected to the appearance of new lawyers representing the respondents. He said the fresh legal team hadn't followed proper court procedures for changing counsel.
Pwul argued that Order 52 of Plateau State High Court rules requires formal written notice before any lawyer can replace another in ongoing cases. He contended the new team had breached this requirement.
The respondents' counsel, Yakubu H., SAN, countered that litigants enjoy constitutional freedom to choose their lawyers. He added that since Fatima and her father are separate parties, they're entitled to independent legal representation.
Yakubu noted that the court had already decided the case in favour of his clients. He argued this made it proper for the respondents to engage fresh counsel to defend the judgment in the appeal.
Justice Donglong reserved judgment on the preliminary objection until October 29. The court will then address the substantive appeals seeking to overturn the June 9 ruling, he said.
