Court Dismisses Miyetti Allah’s Suit For Open Grazing

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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday dismissed a suit filed by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, challenging and seeking to restrain the 2017 Open Grazing Prohibition and Establishment Law passed by the Benue State House of Assembly.

The presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, dismissed the suit and also awarded a cost of N100, 000 against Miyetti Allah to be paid to all the 14 defendants before any other step can be taken in the suit.

The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in their suit sought a mandatory injunction of the court restraining the Benue State government from implementing the law as passed by the Benue State House of Assembly.

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However, Justice Abang held that the plaintiff failed to comply with an earlier order of the court delivered in early 2018, directing them to file an amended originating summons.

In November 2017, the Benue State government had officially effected its ban on open grazing throughout the state, in order to put an end to persistent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state.

Governor Samuel Ortom had also on May 22, signed the anti-open grazing and anti-kidnapping, abduction, cultism and terrorism bills into law.

This judgement comes at the time when State governors are divided over the setting up of RUGA initiative for herdsmen in some states as an option to open grazing.