Court Stops 'Peace Committee' From Mounting Roadblocks, Extorting Motorists In Donga

A Taraba state High court sitting in Wukari, has ordered that all roadblocks mounted by the Donga Peace Central Committee, be removed and it's  members to stop collection of any levy  from residents and motorists in the area.

The court  also ordered the the Donga Peace Central Committee to pay two hundred thousand naira as cost of litigation, over a lawsuit filed against them by one Abdulrasheed Suleiman Babaaturmi, 

It was alleged by Babaaturmi, through his Counsel that the Committee, which was set up by the youths in Donga Local Government Area shortly after the crises between, Jukuns and Tivs to maintain peace and order, has resort to extorting money from road users in the area.

He accused the Donga Peace Central Committee of setting up  roadblocks and  compelling  motorists to pay N200 for each bag of grains and N1500 for every 100 pieces of yam.

While delivering the judgment, Justice K.B K Odiah of the  State High Court Wukari division stated that the Committee does not have the constitutional power to impose tax or levy on motorists and residents.

The notes that only government has the right to set up roadblocks for the purpose of revenue.

According to her, no Committee or Association, has any right to impose levy on people except government establishment that.

While reacting to the judgment, the Counsel to the applicant Barr Ibrahim Abdulkarim, express delight over the judgment, while noting that the applicant, approached the court to seek redress over the activities of the Committee, which has been put to rest by the verdict.

According to the Barr Abdulkarim,  the judgment brings an end to the activities of the Committee in the area.

"The Committee will not be there, because the activities of mounting roadblocks and collecting taxes on from motorists and residents is unconstitutional according to the court ruling."