Fufore emirate tussle: Court adjourns suit to Dec 4 as defense opens its case
The lingering legal battle over the legitimacy of the newly created Fufore Emirate entered another critical phase on Thursday as the Yola High Court adjourned the matter to December 4, 2025, for continuation of examination and cross-examination of the defense.
The adjournment was pronounced by Justice Musa Usman after hearing submissions from both prosecution and defense counsels following the testimony of the defense’s sole witness for the day, Abubakar Jijiwa, the Wazirin Fufore.
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The suit, which has drawn considerable public interest, was instituted by three senior traditional title holders of the Adamawa Emirate Council; Alhaji Musa Halilu Ahmed (Dujiman Adamawa), Alhaji Mustapha Dahiru Mustapha (Yeriman Adamawa), and Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed (Sarkin Noma Adamawa) who are challenging the legality, process, and propriety of the state government’s decision earlier this year to carve out the Fufore Emirate from the historic Adamawa Emirate.
The plaintiffs argue that the move threatens the cultural integrity, genealogical hierarchy, and historical continuum of the Fombina dynasty, which has existed for more than two centuries.
The controversy began shortly after the Adamawa State Government announced the creation of the Fufore Emirate, citing administrative convenience, longstanding community requests, and the need for enhanced grassroots governance.
The decision immediately triggered protests from various traditional stakeholders, particularly within the Adamawa Emirate Council, who maintained that such an adjustment to the traditional structure required deeper consultation and adherence to established norms.
Since the filing of the suit, the courtroom has become the main arena for the contest of legitimacy. Previous sittings have been marked by heated legal exchanges, including the filing of interlocutory appeals by two of the defense counsels alleging that the High Court failed to entertain their preliminary objections.
These appeals, however, were later withdrawn by the defense at the Court of Appeal, leading to their dismissal, an outcome the prosecution has described as a vindication of the High Court’s adherence to due process.
During Monday’s proceedings, the defense opened its case with the testimony of Wazirin Fufore, Abubakar Jijiwa, who confirmed under oath that he was among stakeholders who demanded the creation of the new emirate.
“We wrote a letter of request for the creation of the Fufore Emirate to the Adamawa State Governor dated 9th December 2024,” Jijiwa told the court, affirming his involvement in the petition that laid the foundation for the government’s eventual decision.
Lead prosecution counsel, Mohammed Nuruddeen (SAN), while briefing journalists after the session, disclosed that the defense’s fourth witness had successfully testified, but the third defendant was absent due to bereavement. He emphasized that the case had been adjourned to allow continuation of defense proceedings.
On the issue of earlier interlocutory appeals, Nuruddeen explained that the defense had accused the High Court of failing to rule on their preliminary objections.
“They filed interlocutory appeals and we responded. When the matter came up at the Court of Appeal, they withdrew their appeals and the court dismissed them outright,” he said.
He added that the prosecution considered the High Court’s decision to adjourn rather than rule immediately as the correct judicial approach, a stance he said the defense appeared to accept upon withdrawing their challenge.
