Tiv Umbrella Body Drags Area Traditional Council To Court Over Cultural Claim They Entertain Their Guests With Wives

An umbrella body for Tiv nationalities worldwide, Incorporated Trustees of Mzough U Tiv, has dragged the Tiv Area Traditional Council (TATC) to court over a cultural practice by the Tiv tribe that alleges that the Tiv man entertains his stranger with his wife.

Mzough U Tiv lead counsel, Sabastine Hon, in a statement said the umbrella body of the entire Tiv race has dragged the Tiv traditional council to court to determine the veracity of the claim that Tiv men give their wives out for pleasure.

According to Sabastine Hon, the matter has raged for long, hence the need to have a permanent solution to it, further noting that they have lined up witnesses who are well versed in Tiv tradition and culture, positing that if anyone has anything to the contrary, this is the time for him to come.

“There can’t be collective defamation because we don’t have a cause of action to say that your tribe has been defamed. If we have a determination now, then someday, trace any Tiv man character anywhere, this judgment will be binding on him worldwide and it can be used to sue individuals.

“This is why we are in court, because as a tribe, we have been traumatised. We had expected the Tiv Traditional Council to have taken action since but they deterred and refused to take action, so we are here to enforce our rights as a tribe and nation.

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“Our prayer is for the court to make a declaration that no such custom exists in Tiv land and an order of permanent injunction restraining the Tiv Traditional Council from sitting just aloof.

“We are hoping to get judgment and we are praying to get judgment,” he said.

The counsel to the Defendant (Tiv Area Traditional Council), Edward Ashiekaa, SAN, in his reaction said the allegation that Tiv people give out their wives to strangers is completely false.

 “When this allegation came up, there were lots of complaints from well meaning Tiv sons globally and nationally as to what was happening', he said.

“The Tiv traditional Council was about taking a decision as to the way forward to debunk this allegation when suddenly we were served with the writ of summons to come and defend this.

“Our defence is very simple, we are asked to do something about it. The traditional council is ready to take a decision on this so that whatever resolution is taken will stand as notice to all.

“We are not defending the character of the falsehood of this allegation but what we are coming to court to say it that the traditional council is aware of this allegation and is taking every step to ensure that is not repeated at any other time in future.”

Sabatine Hon, SAN, counsel for the plaintiff, at the mention of the matter acknowledged that the defendant served him with statement of defence which he has perused and will apply for substantive hearing of the matter because of the issue involved and the zeal in the issue.

The defence counsel E. Ashiekaa, SAN also confirmed that the defendants have filed service of defence.

“It is an interesting case, and to the best of my knowledge, this case has never been mentioned, and I join by brother silk to sit down, depending on how many witnesses they will bring.