Man Sentenced for Sitting on Tor Tiv Throne

A 30-year-old man, Stephen Nyitse, who sat on the Tor Tiv’s throne shortly before the new king was installed on Saturday in Gboko, Benue State, has bagged four years imprisonment.

Nyitse was handed the sentence yesterday after being convicted by a Chief Magistrate Court presided over in Gboko by Justice P. S Chaha.

The court held that the convict was guilty of trespass and impersonating the new Tor Tiv, V, Orchivirigh Professor James Ayatse.

The prosecution had earlier told the court that the police from the Criminal Investigation  Department arrested the convict at the J.S Tarka stadium, the venue of the coronation few hours to the coronation proper of the newly installed king for sitting on the chair already prepared and kept for the paramount ruler to sit on his arrival at the arena.

According to the prosecution, the convict made confessional statement to the police during interrogation that he was under an evil spell to do what he did on that day.

The trial judge, Justice Chaha, described the action as a disgrace to the Tiv nation for which he deserved no mercy, and sentenced him to serve as deterrent to others.

Our correspondent reports that Nyitse had caused a stir at the JS Tarka Stadium in Gboko when he walked up to the stage, beating the supposed protective attention of vigilante security operatives, and sat on the throne prepared for the Tor Tiv who was yet to arrive for the event.

He had told newsmen after being caught by security operatives that he was sent by God to sit on the Tor Tiv ‘s throne shortly before security operatives whisked him out of the venue for further interrogation.

The throne was later anointed and prayed upon by clerics before the arrival of the Tor Tiv who took his turn to pray alongside his wife before mounting the seat.