Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reaffirmed that there is no dispute between Akwa Ibom and Cross River States over the ownership of 76 oil wells, following recent claims by Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, to reclaim the wells, GRASSROOT REPORTERS reports.
Speaking during the monthly prayer meeting at the Government House Chapel, Governor Eno emphasized that the Supreme Court had twice ruled in favour of Akwa Ibom, declaring Cross River a non-littoral state.
“The Supreme Court has already settled this matter. Cross River is not a littoral state, and the oil wells rightfully belong to Akwa Ibom. I urge our citizens not to engage in a matter that has been legally resolved,” Governor Eno stated.
This comes after Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River, in a media conference in Calabar in February, vowed to reclaim the 76 oil wells ceded to Akwa Ibom in 2012.
Governor Otu argued that the wells were wrongly ceded and expressed optimism about reversing the decision. He noted that while Cross River has not received revenue from the wells, Akwa Ibom has also been unable to access proceeds, as the funds are being held in an escrow account pending a final decision.
The dispute dates back to 2012, when the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Akwa Ibom, citing Cross River’s loss of littoral status following the cession of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in 2008.
Justice Olufunlola Adekeye, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that Cross River no longer had a maritime territory and was therefore ineligible to claim offshore oil wells. The court also absolved government agencies such as the National Boundary Commission and the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) of any blame for the loss.
Governor Eno, however, dismissed Cross River’s claims, urging Akwa Ibom citizens to remain focused on development and unity. He also emphasized the importance of respecting past and present leaders for their contributions to the state’s progress. “It is difficult to understand how individuals who are not from Akwa Ibom seek to run down our leaders on baseless allegations. As Governor, I can confidently say that I have seen no evidence supporting such false accusations against our past leaders,” he said.
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