Battle for dismemberment of Fufore emirate moves to appeal court
Three prominent traditional title holders of the Adamawa Emirate have taken their legal battle against the creation of the Fufore Emirate to the Court of Appeal, Yola Division, challenging a High Court judgment that dismissed their suit earlier this year.
The appellants; Alhaji Musa Halilu Ahmed (Dujiman Adamawa), Alhaji Mustapha Dahiru Mustapha (Yeriman Adamawa), and Alhaji Mustapha Ahmadu (Sarkin Noma Adamawa), filed a Notice of Appeal on Tuesday, seeking to overturn the judgment delivered by Justice Musa Usman of the Adamawa State High Court on March 3, 2026, in Suit No. HC/ADSY/14/2025.
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The High Court had struck out their case, which challenged the creation of the Fufore Emirate and the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Sani Ahmadu Ribadu as the Emir of Fufore, citing procedural deficiencies.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the appellants are contesting the entire judgment on nine grounds. They argued that the trial court erred in law by declaring the suit incompetent for failure to serve a pre-action notice despite what they described as the urgency and exceptional nature of the matter.
The appellants also faulted the court’s decision on locus standi, insisting that as senior traditional title holders within the Adamawa Emirate, they possess direct personal and proprietary interests in matters affecting the structure and integrity of the emirate.
According to the appeal, the trial judge wrongly shifted the burden of proof to the appellants instead of requiring the respondents to demonstrate compliance with Section 5(1) of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law of Adamawa State, 2024, which mandates consultation with relevant stakeholders before the creation of a new emirate.
They further contended that the court failed to properly evaluate oral testimony from members of the Adamawa Emirate Council who reportedly stated under oath that no consultation was carried out with the council before the establishment of the Fufore Emirate.
The appellants also maintained that the lower court neglected constitutional issues raised in the suit, including claims based on Sections 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 22(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
In their appeal, the traditional title holders are asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the High Court judgment and exercise its powers under Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act to determine the substantive issues in the case.
Specifically, they are seeking the nullification of Adamawa State Legal Notice No. 56 of 2024, issued on December 20, 2024, which created the Fufore Emirate from the existing Adamawa Emirate. They are also asking the court to invalidate the inauguration of the Fufore Emirate and its Emirate Council, restrain the fourth respondent from presenting himself as the Emir of Fufore, and restore the Adamawa Emirate to its previous status under the leadership of the Lamido of Adamawa before the creation of the new emirate.
The appellants are equally seeking an award of costs against the respondents.
In a statement issued on their behalf by Prof. Alkasum Abba, the appellants reiterated their determination to pursue all lawful avenues available to defend what they described as the customary, traditional and constitutional integrity of the Adamawa Emirate.
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