by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The case between the Commissioner of Police versus one Sylvester Wallangko, who is said to be the former Commissioner of Budget in Plateau State and currently a member representing Bokkos local government in the Plateau State House of Assembly, and nine others, has been adjourned to 20 of January, 2025, for hearing at the Giring Magistrate’s Court, in Jos Abattoir.
The case has been described as criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, and wrongful restrain conspired with others trespassing into the complainant’s home, Mrs Victoria Wallangko, denying her access to the home and, thereby, causing her trauma.
Justice Tapmwa Kyeswet had instructed that the plaintiff’s belongings be returned to her home and the defendants should not be seen anywhere near the plaintiff’s home or surroundings.
A bail of one million naira each was granted to them, while the case was adjourned to 20th January for case management.
Speaking with the complainant, Mrs Victoria Wallangko said, on Saturday, some people who were her in-laws came to the house and began to pack her belongings, asking her to vacate the house.
They packed her things into two trucks and told her to come along with them, which she refused. She then reached out to her people, who called the police, and the people were arrested.
The case was reported to Rantya Police Station and, subsequently, charged to Abattoir Magistrate’s Court.
In an interview with Barr Garba Puwul (SAN), who is Counsel to the complainant, he said, “It’s very reasonable, but the family have taken the law into their hands.”
Garba Puwul noted that, “It is unfortunate that up till now, society is not sufficiently enlightened and tends to give room to culture, to have some level of prominence.”
He explained that, “The truth of the matter is that, in our Nigerian legal system, practices of tradition and customary law are allowed; but, if they become repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience, to that extent they are null and void.
“That is to say, any culture that is against constitutional rights, fair hearing, natural justice, human dignity that violates human rights as incorporated in our constitution, that is when that culture has no recognition,” he stated.
He added thus: “Because, if everybody blames this culture, they are in conflict, particularly in this case. If you say women are at liberty to go and eject their in-laws, a lady from their brother’s house, there is another culture that says, ‘if your sister is mistreated, mobilize your young men to go and rescue her.’
“Then, there will be conflict; then there will be no harmony in society, and there will be total breakdown of law and order. So, law and order must prevail over any kind of culture,” he stressed.
“Therefore, in this particular case, the culture is to be condemned where you go to a lady’s house and bring out belongings without court order. Without taking inventory in the absence of a husband can lead to total breakdown of law and order.
“It can even lead to loss of life when the two families clash. Therefore, the law must take its course, nevertheless,” he stated.
He noted that, “Reconciliation is between two feuding parties. If husband and wife have problems, they can reconcile. But, there’s apparently no problem between husband and wife in this case.
“The husband is not here. The husband didn’t remove his wife’s things. So, it is these people that don’t have a written or no relationship with the wife directly that are involved. So, what is there to consider?”
Meanwhile, efforts made by our correspondent to hear from the ‘invading’ party’s side of the story were not successful, as their leader (or counsel) declined comments – on grounds that, “the husband to the complainant is in a better position to speak.”