The Census Tribunal on Thursday declared as invalid?the 2006 census figures of three local government areas in Taraba.
A?judgement delivered by Mr Habibu Ma’aruf, Chairman of tribunal `B’,? voided the population figures of?Jalingo, Kurmi and Sardauna Local Government Areas.
The tribunal held?that the National Population Commission (NOC), failed to?give evidence to support their claims that?enumeration took place in the three councils.
Ma'aruf, further held that the?samples of NPC form 01, that was?said to have been used?for the areas, were not tendered before the tribunal.
The tribunal also held that the?testimonies of NPC's witnesses were?based on speculation.
“The tribunal having weigh the arguments of the complainants against the NPC,?came to a conclusion that the councils?were not enumerated.
“The respondent was unable to give evidence of enumeration of the localities. Tough they held that the 2006 census was based on enumeration areas, the NPC?failed to account for the areas not enumerated.
“The tribunal enters?judgement in favour of the complainants. T population figures declared by NPC for the councils are not accurate and therefore declared null and?void,’’ the tribunal said.
It would be recalled that the NPC declared the population of Jalingo as,140, 318,?Kurmi 91, 282 and?Sardauna 224, 357.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the local councils filed separate complaints before the tribunal on?July 30, 2009 alleging that the figures declared for them by NPC were inaccurate.
They also alleged that some of their localities were not enumerated during the enumeration periods that took place between May 21 to 27, 2009.
They payed the court to order for the re-enumeration of the affected localities. (NAN)