A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has adjourned until October 29, 2026, further proceedings in the appeal challenging the judgment recognising Hausa people born and raised in Jos North Local Government Area as indigenes of the area.
Justice C. Donglong fixed the date on Friday after hearing arguments on a preliminary objection over the appearance of a new legal team representing the respondents in the matter.
The appeal followed the court’s June 9, 2026, judgment, which held that a Hausa person born and raised in Jos North Local Government Area is entitled to be recognised as an indigene of the area.
The decision arose from a suit instituted by Fatima Baba Akawu and her father, Baba Alhaji Akawu, against Jos North Local Government Council after the council declined to issue Fatima an indigene certificate.
The claimants had asked the court to determine whether Fatima Akawu, by virtue of her birth in Jos North to a father they described as a bona fide indigene of the area, was entitled to an indigene certificate despite her Hausa ethnic origin.
They also sought a declaration that the council’s refusal to issue her the certificate, while granting her a residence certificate and issuing an indigene certificate to one Dung Bot, of Berom ethnic origin, on the same date, amounted to discrimination in violation of Sections 42, 15 and 17 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Articles 2 and 3 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In addition, the applicants
