Lalong MoU with Jaiz Bank: Court adjourns Bagos suit to August 30

 

.We’re opposed to deal, leave our market alone-Plateau stakeholders insist

 

 

From Daniel Dauda, Jos

 

 

A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos Division has on Monday adjourned to the 30th August, 2022, for continuation of hearing on a suit filed by Hon. Musa Dachung Bagos, Member Representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency  challenging Governor Simon Lalong, State Government and the Attorney General of Plateau State and Commissioner for Justice over the signing of Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Jaiz Bank to rebuild Jos Main Market.

 

The Jos Main market was burnt down  in 2004 with over 3700 shops destroyed by the inferno which affected sources of  livelihood of traders in the market about 18 years ago.

 

Recall the Law maker, Musa Bagos having been dissatisfied with Plateau State Government decision to sign an MoU Jaiz Bank quickly approach the Judiciary and obtained Court order restraining Plateau Government from putting pen to paper with Jaiz Bank in respect to Jos Main Market rebuilding.

 

However, when the matter came up for hearing before justice S.P Gang counsel to the Claimant/Applicant, Barr. Niri Darong told the court that the matter was slated for hearing today and the defendants in his reaction to their originating surmount have chosen to file preliminary Objections (P.O) and to allow notice of originating surmount on the fact that two applications shouldn’t taken together  respectively.

 

According to the counsel of the Claimant /Applicant, “they filed their originating surmount dated 9/8/2022 and the notice of P.O also 9/8/2022 and was served on the objectors which they filed their counter affidavit in response dated 15/8/2022 ,adding that the objectors also filed another dated 13/8/2022 in response the notice of originating surmount .

 

He told the court that they gave the objectors space of time to file their response which is within  21 days on notice.Adding the P.O filed by defendants challenging the court for lack of jurisdiction to entertain the suit .

 

Speaking on the suit filed, Barr.Niri Darong said the learned Attorney General of Plateau state, Chryscentus Amadu said that Hon Musa Bagos has no locus standing, meaning he has no right to sued regarding so many breach of several agreement in the proposed MoU with the Jaiz bank.

 

He explained further that “to rebuild the main market as we file response saying that the constitution has given every citizens  of Nigeria the right to challenge any act of government, whatever the government ,whoever the government is ,we also say that he has the right under the act of his present office to defend the right of his people  and that of the state of his constituent.

 

Darong stressed that the learned Attorney general has also responded by servicing us with it and he is of the view that the court should take his objection today and we have to tell the court base on supreme court authority the issue of originating surmount and existing surmount most be taken together and he conceal to the argument and the court graciously granted to the adjournment to the 30th August, 2022.

 

Meanwhile, stakeholders on the Plateau continue demonstrating resistance and counter resistance over Government MoU with Jaiz Bank, saying ” we are not part of this arrangement, live our market along…..

 

The Secretary of Youth Wing Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), alongside Rev. Bernard Bitrus, Evangelist Yakubu Gidado Maigida said today we are in court and the proceedings went. We have earlier stated our position and we still repeating it again that we are not in support of the rebuilding of Jos main market that is going to be done with the Jaiz Bank because this whole thing is shrouded in a lot of secrecy and Plateau people are not ready to mortgage our destiny for next 40 years.

 

“There are other better ways that Government can engage and come up with resources that would built this market.

But for the deal with the Jaiz Bank we are saying no to it. We stand by it together with the Honourable Law maker who took this matter to Court. We are here to show Solidarity to him and to the Plateau people. Not necessarily to Hon.Bagos, Bagos is just an individual that is voicing the voice of over four million people on the Plateau. And that is our simple position to say No to this project.

 

“Our brethren from the diaspora promised to give money for the rebuilding of this market and we don’t know  why the Government is insisting on doing this project. Since they have agreed to give more than ten billion Naira free not necessarily loan.

 

“But Plateau State Government are insisting on collecting the loan and their deal with Jaiz Bank it means there is something fishy and something they want to do to mortgage our destiny and our future and we are not going to agree with that arrangement. There is no opposite opinion to this. Politicians are trying to play politics. But we are saying no to this because we are the real owners of the land.

 

“Lalong what has he been doing seven years ago in office, he only has seven months to go now! And seven months to go you are trying to take us into a deal that would take us 40 years to recover and we are saying no to it. What stop you from doing this in your first tenure and this are some of your campaign promised before you come on board. We know this is something fishy and something that will not allow the Plateau people to know. So we are saying no to it….