*Imoke flays  judgment *Akpabio sues for peace

By  Ikechukwu Nnochiri & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA—Cross River State, yesterday, lost its bid to reclaim ownership of the 76 oil wells that had been subject of controversy between it and Akwa Ibom State.

The Supreme Court, in its judgment on the matter, said that Cross River became a non-littoral state since 2002, when Bakassi Pennisula was handed over to Cameroun by the International Court of Justice, ICJ.

The apex court, also struck out the suit by Rivers State Government, praying it to declare that Soku oil, which it argued was wrongfully ceded to Bayelsa State, is legally located within its territory.

Imoke condemns judgment
Meanwhile, Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, has condemned the apex court decision, saying that the judgment lacked justice and equity.

Imoke in a state broadcast after the apex court judgment, described the judgment as miscarriage of justice.

Justice Olufunlola Adekeye, who read the lead judgment, which was unanimous by, dismissed the appeal by Cross River State as lacking in substance and merit.

The court said, “the facts before the court do not support the claim of the plaintiff to being a littoral state. A non-littoral state cannot claim oil wells offshore as she has no maritime territory. The plaintiff has no maritime territory since the cessation of Bakassi Peninsula and the Cross River estuary which used to be part of the state prior to August 2008. The present position of the plaintiff cannot be blamed on any government agency particularly the National Boundary Commission and the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC.

“This court cannot because of the influx of refugees from Bakassi into Cross River State, give a legislative judgment. The government of Nigeria has a means of providing for the social needs of the people of Cross River State faced with the social problems thrust on the state due to the cessation of the Bakassi Peninsula to the Cameroun,” the court said

Reaction, Governor Imoke said, “As a wronged but law-abiding people, we had hoped for justice.  We had hoped for a dispensation of justice that would restore our belief in the timeless saying by the iconic American civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Junior that “the arm of the moral universe still bends towards justice.”

He said that the judgment differed from the opinion of the people but noted that justice could only be delayed and not denied.

“We maintained our peace and dignity even in the face of what could easily have provoked unprecedented violence and reprisals.  We hoped for justice from the highest court in the land. But our hope was dashed.  My dear brothers and sisters, our spirit will never be broken,” he added.

Akpabio speaks
Governor Godwill Akpabio, who also spoke to journalists after the judgment, said had the apex court ceded the 76 oil wells to Cross River State, it would have automatically transferred to Cameroun.

He said: “we are happy that the Supreme Court did justice today, but we hereby extend hands of fellowship to our sister state, we have always lived amicably with one another, and we are committed towards ensuring that the relationship that had always existed between the two states is not jeopardized in any way.”