The Census Tribunal sitting in Abuja Monday invalidated the enumeration figure of Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State as declared by the National Population Commission (NPC).
The Census Tribunal ‘A’ Chairman, Mr. Abraham Yisa, announced this in a ruling.
He said the ruling was based on the failure of the respondent to disprove the allegation of non-enumeration of the areas by the complainant, the Nembe local government council.
The council had filed the suit alleging that the areas concerned were not enumerated by the NPC during the 2006 National Population and Household Census.
The tribunal also ordered for the recount in the 55 areas as demanded by the complainant which disputed the population figure of 130,966 declared for it by the commission.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the areas are Okoroma; Oluasiri; Ologo-Ama; Mini; Tereke; Omiekiri Bassambiri; Ilulu Village, Bassambiri; Okin-Ama; Nembekaramo; Iserekiri; Ozukiri; Sangakubu; Iwokiri; Ilelema and Damikiri.
Others are Emina Ama; Ekperikiri; Oguama; Sabatoru; Obiama; Sonkiri; SangakubuBurukiri; Burukiri; Otuama-Ama; Obiata; Agrisaba; Fikoru-Ama; Tengele-Ama Benama; Asuku-Ama; Sanga-Gbene; Ogboama-Gbene; Okoroba; Emeke Okoroba; Okogbo-Ama; Izagara-Ama; Ikensi; Atubo; Tubo and Tubo-Ama.
The rest are Elemu-Ama; Egenelugu; Eyum-Ama; Igbeta-Iwoama; Etie-Ama; Iwokiri Agada; Biokponga; Otatubo; Igopiri; Biantubo; Boroma; Bugokiri,; Derrikiri; Daulagulukiri; Iseleogono Youngkiri; Dekekiri Atubu and Pukokiri.
The tribunal held that the commission omitted several localities in its Enumeration Area (EA) map in spite of the representations made by the council.
It further held that the enumerators failed to give adequate coverage to the entire areas due to logistic factors and the terrain.
It said that trial census materials were used in some parts of the council.
The council prayed the court to declare the figure null and void and to order for a fresh conduct of the exercise.
Yisa said rather than the respondent to give claims of enumeration of the areas alleged, it based its argument on the witnesses’ claims of being enumerated, describing their testimonies as ‘hearsay.
He stressed that the two witnesses were the immediate past and present chairmen of the council.
The chairman said the fact they were enumerated was not a proof that the entire areas alleged as not properly enumerated were enumerated.
Yisa said the tribunal was convinced that the facts they testified about were facts within their knowledge and not hearsay.
The chairman, however, quoted one of the witnesses, stating without contradiction in his testimonies that the population of Nembe in 1991 census was 154,006.
According to him, the respondent had onus to disprove several facts alleged by the complainant, which he noted, as shortage of enumeration materials and insufficient census personnel in several areas.
“The entirety of the respondent final argument has not properly addressed the unresolved issues regarding non-inclusion in the enumeration area maps, total non-enumeration and improper enumeration.
“Taking into account the evidence tendered by both parties, it is reasonable to infer that the census figure released by the respondent is not a true reflection of the population of the local government area.
“The tribunal is, therefore, convinced that on a balance of probabilities the complainant has made out a case against the respondent.
“Therefore, by the power vested in the tribunal by virtue of paragraph 25 of the third schedule made in pursuant to Section 28 of the NPC Act, it holds that the complaint succeeds and orders a recount in the 55 areas in the council,” Yisa declared.
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