A Justice of the Supreme Court, Sidi Bage has emerged as the 17th Emir of Lafia Emirate in Nasarawa State. He succeeds the late Emir Mustapha Agwai I who passed away on the 10th of January this year.

The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Haruna Osegba announced the selection of the Emir on Tuesday in Lafia following a meeting of the state’s  Traditional Council.

Osegba said the new Emir was selected by the emirate’s College of Selectors, ratified by the state’s Traditional Council and approved by Governor Umaru Al-Makura, in line with Legal Notice 12 of 1986, Section 31 stipulating the rotation of the stool between the two royal houses.

He explained that Justice Bage and Musa Mustapha Agwai, son of the late Emir contested for the position. He said Bage was however selected by four out of the five members of the College of Selectors.

Born on June 22, 1956 in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, Bage attended  Dunoma Primary School, Lafia from 1963 to 1969 and Government Secondary School, Lafia from 1970 to 1974.

He was admitted into the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria for a diploma programme in Law between 1975 and 1977. He obtained same at Credit Level and later got his L.L.B. Honorary degree in 1980.

Similarly, two other monarchs were also confirmed by the Nasarawa State Government. Isa Abubakar Umaru was appointed as the Emir of Awe while Umaru Usman Dodo emerged as Osokadok of Kadarko following the death of the former traditional ruler, Fabian Orogu.