Mr Yusufu Akirikwen, the Taraba Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice on Thursday said the state government has not suspended its open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law as reported in some sections of the media.
Akirikwen disclosed this in Jalingo when he appeared in “Face the Press”, an accountability programme, initiated by the Senior Special Assistant to Gov Darius Ishaku on Public Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Bello.
The Commissioner said the state would amend the contentious sections of the law so as to ensure peace among all parties.
According to him, once a law is passed and assented to, only the legislative arm of government was constitutionally empowered to repeal it.
“Even the governor has no right to suspend the law; it is only the House of Assembly that can repeal or amend the law.
“As you know, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has gone through several amendments, but there was never a time the constitution was suspended.
“The Osinbajo led National Economic Council on ending herdsmen/farmers crisis only recommended the review or amendment of sections 23, 24 and 25 which prescribed punishment for violators of the law.
“Gov Ishaku, as a leader yearning for peace ,has decided to opt for gradual implementation of the law even before this time.
“So, as a peace loving governor, he has agreed for the amendment of the sections in the interest of peace, but he has no power to suspend the law,” he said.
Akirikwen also dismissed the allegations that he wrote the state commissioner of police, demanding the release of suspected criminals arrested in connection with the 2017 violent conflict on the Mambilla, saying his letter to the commissioner was meant to draw his attention to the commission of enquiry which was investigating the crisis.
Akirikwen, who said the Secretary of the commission also wrote a similar letter to the police, noted that no suspect under the law can be tried on an offense in two different courts or tribunal at the same time.
The Attorney General submitted that the only way out of herdsmen/ farmers clashes was for all to accept ranching, which he noted would better the lives of herders and make their cows more productive and profitable.
