By Nahum Sule, Jalingo

The Takum Sociocultural Group, under the Takum Chamba Socio-cultural Development Association, has welcomed the Appeal Court’s decision to order a retrial of the appeal filed by the Kuteb against the Taraba state government and the Chamba ruling clan of Takum.

In the press release, the group says the decision made on March 5, 2025, at the Appeal Court in Yola, orders that Appeal No. CA//YL/120/2024 be remitted to the Taraba State High Court for trial de novo before another Judge nominated by the Chief Justice of Taraba state.

The group’s spokesperson, Sawariga Dauda, expressed optimism that justice will be served, given the evidence and historical records presented before the court. Dauda stated that the Chamba people are well-prepared to defend their position, having successfully presented their case in the first suit.

“We are not worried about the decision of the Appeal Court which ordered a retrial. Moreover, we are not appealing but defending our position as the owner of Takum Chieftaincy Stool.”

“So, we have our historical records and facts as earlier presented to the High Court in Jalingo, which first gave us victory; we shall still re-present them to any judge assigned to the case once again,” Dauda said.

” We are optimistic of another round of victory because we have records to yet validate our claims to the throne and ever ready to comply with the High Court in Jalingo once again.”

This development is the latest in the ongoing Takum Chieftaincy dispute, which has seen the Kuteb people contesting the Chamba ruling clan’s claim to the throne. The Chamba Group has previously argued that they have a right to the rulership of Takum, citing historical records and the fact that both the Chambas and Kutebs have taken turns ruling the town.

The dispute has been ongoing for some time, with the Kuteb people rejecting a rotation arrangement proposed by the Taraba state government, which would allow the Chamba, Kuteb, and Kpanzu peoples to take turns ruling the town.