Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom on Tuesday confirmed this development to newsmen in Makurdi.
The association had few days after governor Samuel Ortom assented to the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment bill threatened to challenge the law in court.
It claimed that Fulanis are the first settler of Benue valley and as such original owners of Benue state.
The suit filed at federal high court Abuja with no FHC/ABJ/CS/527/2017 was instituted by Trustees of Miyeittii Allah Kautal Hore socio cultural association, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodojo and Engineer Salleh Alhassan through their counsel, Aliyu Ahmed and associates.
Joined in the suit are the National Assembly, Attorney General of Federation, Inspector General of Police, Benue State house of Assembly, Benue State Government and Benue Commissioner of Police.
The suit is challenging the state law which it claims contradicted the freedom of movement as encapsulated in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
Governor Ortom told newsmen that as a law abiding citizen, he was not perturbed by the decision of the cattle breeders to seek to frustrate his peace efforts through legal means, positing that the state would slog it out with the group in court.
He said he was waiting for the courts to tell him that it was unlawful for him to initiate a bill for the law and send to the State House of Assembly, stressing that he believes in the rule of law and would never resort to violence in addressing security challenges.
“Our administration believes in rule of law and we follow due process of the law in coming out with the anti grazing law because I see it as my constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property of my people including those of the herdsmen.”
“Because the law seeks the establishment of ranches not just for cattle but for all livestock including pigs, goats and sheep.”
The business of herds should be prohibited as it pose a threat to safety of lives and properties.
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