Taraba Judge Faces Backlash from Residents Over Controversial Arrests
Residents of Doorshima, a community in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State, have called for the immediate removal of Grade I Area Court Judge, Justice Saidu Muhammad, citing allegations of harassment and intimidation. The community’s appeal, directed to the State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Chief Judge of Taraba, Justice Joel Filibus Agya, seeks to protect the integrity of the judicial system.
According to the spokesperson for the community, Istifanus Moses, the residents claim that Justice Muhammad, in collaboration with two others, has been using his judicial position to unlawfully seize fish ponds that are legally owned by the community under the Sarkin Kudu Chiefdom. “The judge and his associates are making our lives miserable, forcing us out of our rightful fish ponds,” Moses asserted.
The community alleges that despite clear instructions from the National Boundary Commission, the Taraba State Boundary Commission, and the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, all of which affirmed the ownership of the ponds under the Sarkin Kudu Chiefdom, the judge has ignored these directives. On January 11, 2025, Judge Muhammad reportedly ordered the arrest of the Ward Head of Doorshima, Mallam Ibrahim, who was detained at Ibi Police Station until his release the following day, facilitated by the local government chairman, Iliya Jibu.
The residents argue that the judge’s actions are being influenced by powerful figures from the Ibi Chiefdom, undermining the rights of Doorshima’s people. “Despite our attempts to attend court hearings, we were prevented from crossing the Ibi River by orders from influential individuals. When we brought this to the judge’s attention, he dismissed our explanation and ordered the detention of Madakin Doorshima,” Moses explained.
The community also accused the judge of issuing arrest warrants against several of its members, believing these actions to be part of a deliberate campaign of intimidation.
However, Judge Muhammad has denied the allegations, explaining that he was simply responding to a complaint filed by Alih Buhari regarding the disputed fish ponds. He maintained that the court’s summons were ignored, leading to the subsequent arrests for contempt of court, which he defended as routine legal procedure.
