Legal battle over Adamawa’s Fufore Emirate moves to Court of Appeal

A suit challenging the creation of the Fufore Emirate in Adamawa State has been taken to the Court of Appeal after a High Court dismissed it.

The Fufore Emirate was carved out of the most prominent emirate in Adamawa State, the Adamawa Emirate, in December 2024, after which three traditional title holders of the Adamawa Emirate went to court challenging the creation of the new emirate.

A High Court in Yola had ruled in March this year that the emirate was created in accordance with legal procedure; however, the dissatisfied plaintiffs have now taken their legal battle to the Yola Division of the Court of Appeal, restating their demands.

The appellants — Alhaji Musa Halilu Ahmed, Alhaji Mustapha Dahiru Mustapha and Alhaji Mustapha Ahmadu — filed their Notice of Appeal on Tuesday, seeking to overturn the judgment delivered by Justice Musa Usman of the Adamawa State High Court on March 3, 2026.

The suit at issue not only challenges the creation of the Fufore Emirate but also the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Sani Ahmadu Ribadu as the Emir, citing procedural deficiencies.

They now argue before the appellate court that the trial court erred in law by declaring their suit incompetent for failure to serve a pre-action notice, despite the urgency of the matter.

The appellants also faulted the lower court’s decision on locus standi, insisting that as senior traditional title holders within the Adamawa Emirate, they have direct interests in matters affecting the integrity of the emirate.

Specifically, in their appeal, the traditional title holders are seeking the nullification of Adamawa State Legal Notice No. 56 of 2024 issued on December 20, 2024, which created the Fufore Emirate.

They are also asking the court to invalidate the inauguration of the Fufore Emirate and its Emirate Council, and to restrain the Fufore Emir from presenting himself as the Emir.

Legal battle over Adamawa’s Fufore Emirate moves to Court of Appeal