Jaban Kogo (Dung), Kachia Local Government Area, Kaduna State - NIGERIA.

Traditional Supreme Court, Jaban Kogo (Dung)

This is the Traditional Supreme Court of the Ham people. It is the highest court in Ham (Jaba) Land; has final appellate jurisdiction and has jurisdiction over all other courts within the Ham Nation. The Supreme Court is composed of a Chief Priest who presides over proceedings and other associate senior priests pooled from other districts. Cases involving murder and death sentences were decided here. The stone in the middle of the court is where the accused is docked during trial. The age of the ever-green Tree cannot be ascertained as no one living or dead knows the age of this amazing tree but it is believed to be centuries old. Also, women are not allowed inside the court! This picture was taken in April 2016 during the dry season. This court is still regard sacred by the indigenous people and only the chief priest and the gate-keeper can authorize access to this sacred place. Previous pictures taken, without obtaining the requisite permission, turned out blanks!

April, 2016

Ham Heritage Development Trust Fund, Planning Comm

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