Legal Battle Erupts Over Sayawa Chiefdom: Court Halts Move to Site Headquarters in Tafawa Balewa
A Bauchi State High Court has thrown a wrench into the Bauchi State Government’s plan to establish Sayawa Chiefdom in Tafawa Balewa, as non-Sayawa communities challenge the move in court.
The lawsuit, filed by Village Head of Tafawa Balewa, Mallam Abdullahi Maigida, and 206 others, argues that placing the chiefdom’s headquarters in Tafawa Balewa distorts history and threatens the community’s identity. The plaintiffs, representing non-Sayawa residents and displaced persons, are taking legal action against Governor Bala Mohammed, the Bauchi State House of Assembly, the Attorney General, and other key stakeholders.
Presiding over the case, Justice Sa’ad I. Zadawa ruled that the plaintiffs could proceed with their suit, putting the state government on notice. However, he denied an interim injunction to halt the chiefdom’s creation, instead scheduling a crucial hearing for February 18, 2025.
The controversy began in December 2024, when Governor Bala Mohammed approved the creation of Sayawa Chiefdom following decades of agitation by the Sayawa people, predominantly from Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Government Areas. His decision sparked immediate backlash from non-Sayawa residents, who argue that Tafawa Balewa is not Sayawa territory and that the move could inflame past tensions.
With the legal showdown set to continue, the battle over Sayawa Chiefdom’s location is far from over, keeping the region on edge.