–THE CASE BETWEEN
JONATHAN SUNDAY AKUN Vs ZAKKARIAR MALLO MAFULUL
Re: Plateau”Deputy Governor” Loses 3rd Chieftaincy case Against Brother
By Moses Gbsnde
An Aid to the former deputy governor of plateau state, Hon. Chief Jethro Akun,(MON) Comrade Stephen M. Makwal has debunked news that his boss, former deputy governor of plateau state, Hon. Chief Jethro Akun, (MON) has Losed 3rd Chieftaincy case Against Brother.
Comrade Stephen in a statement says, “Our attention has been drawn to a publication dated 8th August, 2019
reported by MK-Reporters (Masara Kim) on the above subject matter. For that
reason we went to Daffo and specifically to Mandung and find out the facts.
“The fact is that late Da Akun Adwel the Galadiman Daffo was elected in 1961 to
occupy the hereditary stool. The selection/election that took place at the
Traditional Chamber called DISANG at Fagi Mandung in Daffo District. The
election took place in the presence of Chief Priest and three other Priests with all
other circumcise male adults who are descendants of Mandung. At the time
Jonathan Sunday Akun was not born. But when late Akun Adwel realized that he
was becoming of age, he requested that one of his son’s late James Abaka Akun
should be representing him at meetings, and he did that successfully for 13 and a half years up till the time that Akun died in 1997.
“Immediately after the burial, Jonathan Sunday Akun a staff of CBN started
lobbying for the position. The Chief Priest, other Priests and elders told him that
there is a custom and tradition in the clan, they also told him there is procedure
based on custom and tradition of Mandung people which has been a custom and
tradition for decades.
“Therefore, he should wait for an invitation for a meeting to be called by, the Chief
Priest and other Priests at Disang Fagi to signify his interest because it will be an
election not an appointment. Now Jonathan Sunday Akun concern that there is
going to be an election and he is not going to win, he went to his father in-law Late
Saf Daffo and the held a secret meeting to invite selected people to the District
Head Palace for Turbaning as Galadiman Mandung, having watch video for the so
called turbaning, it will interest you to note that of all the Akun male children
nobody was invited to the palace. The fact that Jonathan Sunday Akun knew that he was doing a wrong thing, he also came with masked armed Policemen for the so called turbaning. Watching and listening to the video, the District Head made it
real clear in local dialect and Hausa that he sent invitation to the people that came.
“Again, it will interest you to know the fact that Honourable Chief Jethro Akun was
the one that took Sunday Akun to school in 1968 in Daffo as the sixth child after
him. When the elder brother John Mafulul learnt of the turbaning, he quickly sent
for Jethro Akun to come down to Daffo. John Akun who expressed surprise about
the sudden turbaning which he stated that the villagers were not aware because the
culture, custom and tradition for the selection/election of the stool of Galadiman
Daffo was not followed.
“Therefore, John Akun took it upon himself to contact the
Chief Priest and other Priests, at the end, they give John Akun and Pastor Joseph
Mahanan the mandate to go to Court which they did. Unfortunately, when the case
was on Pastor Joseph Mahanan died while the people at home were thinking that
John was pushing the case. The villagers also petition that what Saf Daffo and
Jonathan Sunday Akun did was against the custom and tradition as there was no
time the Chief Priest invited them to DISANG Mandung for any election. So the
District Head now decided to invite Jonathan Sunday Akun for a meeting with the
Mandung people on two occasions but Jonathan Sunday Akun refused to turn up.
“At the end, the District Head decided to set up and investigation committee made
up of members from other clans in Daffo, headed by village Head of Hottom.
“These members knowing fully well that the traditional chambers Disang of
Mandung is at Fagi Mandung so the invited Mandung people at Disang for the
investigation. At the end, they submitted their report with the list of people that
attended, confirming that there was no election held. On receiving the report, he
submitted it to the traditional council in Bokkos and it stated that nobody outside
Mandung should interfere in the selection of Galadiman Daffo and Ward Head of
Mandung, so also at the end, late Saf Ron-Kulere invited the Chief Priest of Mandung (Saf Ma-Nyorong) and inform him that the traditional council has taken
a decision, he should go and call the Mandung people at Disang so that he can
conduct an election. When he returned, he briefs all his Priests and the take a
decision to invite all the circumcised male adults to a meeting at Disang Fagi on
16/01/2010. While that was going on, a letter came from the Chairman of Bokkos
Local Government Council advising the Chief to conduct a selection peacefully as
a family affairs and so election was held peacefully on the 16/10/2010 in the
presence of Chief Priest and other Priests and crowned Zakkariyya Mallo Mafulul
having the majority votes. Later the community realize that there were plain cloth
security men who were observing all that was going on that day, and their reports
was submitted to the government. Stating that the election was peaceful and a wine
emerged. The people of Mandung surprisingly realize with their greatest dismere
that John Mafulul Akun who was representing them in Court now has abandoned it
and join to institute a case against Zakkariyya Mallo Mafulul and others at B/Ladi
before Justice Dabup. After all the proceeding of the case, the case was in favour
of Zakkariyaa Mallo Mafulul. Jonathan Sunday Akun now went an appeal to
Federal Court of Appeal Jos and he lost.
If you read through the content, what was filled by Jonathan Sunday Akun at
B/Ladi, you will find out that, the case was Jonathan Sunday Akun was appointed
and not election/selection, so Jonathan now moved to appeal at Federal High Court
Jos, and lost, he still proceed to Supreme Court and later withdraw where the case
was now handed over to Justice Longji. Jonathan Sunday Akun then amended his
case that he was elected as Galadiman Mandung.
The people of Mandung know the truth but those of them who do not want to abide
by the truth about custom and tradition to be followed, will not like the stand of
Hon. Chief Jethro Akun, it is up to Mandung people to decide on the judgment”.
Nasarawa Reporters 