Lawyer, CSOs Fault Religious, Civil Society Representation on Karim-Lamido Peace Commission Panel

Fresh controversy has emerged over the recently constituted Karim-Lamido and Other Areas of Crises: Peace and Justice Commission of Inquiry, as both a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) and a legal practitioner have raised serious objections to the panel's composition.

In separate statements, the Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Taraba State, Dr. Joseph Gimba, and human rights lawyer Isa Buba, Esq., expressed concerns over the lack of fairness, inclusivity, and adequate representation on the commission inaugurated by the Taraba State Government.

Dr. Gimba, speaking on behalf of over 60 CSOs in the state, decried the unilateral appointment of an individual purportedly representing civil society without prior consultation or consensus from the coalition.

"To our utter dismay, the representative purportedly selected from our coalition is unknown to us, and we were not consulted in the process," he stated in a letter to the state government.

"I personally submitted a nominee not from the Muri zone to ensure ethnic and regional balance. Our coalition comprises 11 EXCO members and a broad network of professionals who are more than capable of meaningful representation."

Dr. Gimba called on the government to reconsider its decision and respect the coalition's input, citing a longstanding history of collaboration between CSOs and the administration on developmental and peace-building initiatives.

Meanwhile, legal practitioner Isa Buba, Esq., also issued a public protest in an open letter addressed to Governor Agbu Kefas, challenging the religious composition of the commission. According to him, the panel—announced on May 30, 2025, and chaired by Hon. Justice Silas Haruna—reflects a disproportionate Christian dominance, which could erode public confidence, especially within the Muslim community.

Buba emphasized that while he recognizes the personal integrity of the members, the imbalance in religious representation—with only one Muslim member—risks alienating a significant segment of the state's population.

"The crises in Taraba State cannot be divorced completely from being ethno-religious in nature. Therefore, in setting up a commission of inquiry, regard should be had to the membership and their faith in order to avoid any feeling of sentiment in the outcome of the investigation and the report of the commission.

"A careful and clinical perusal of the names of the members of the commission of inquiry, Your Excellency, will reveal that out of the 10 members, only one is a Muslim, who is the representative of the Muslim Council.

"Despite the unquestionable integrity of the members, the current makeup of the commission may be viewed with suspicion and could diminish its perceived neutrality," he warned.

To rectify the situation, Buba recommended the inclusion of a Muslim High Court judge; a Muslim First Class Chief; a representative from the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN); and a representative of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

He stressed that the letter was not an attack on the government but a "constructive input" aimed at ensuring equity and sustaining peace.

"We do hope that this protest will be considered useful for the betterment of the state at large," Buba concluded.