Supreme Court Bans FG From Ceding Oil Wells To Imo

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the federal government of Nigeria and any of its agencies to desist from ceding oil wells at Akri and Mbede communities, to Imo State.

The order follows an ex parte motion argued by Mr Emmanuel Ukala, SAN.

The apex court ruled that the ceding of about 17 oil wells to Imo State should be put on hold, pending the determination of a suit brought before the court by the Rivers State Government.

The Rivers State government through its Attorney General had dragged the AGF and the Attorney of Imo State before the Supreme Court over the disputed oil wells, Naija News understands.

The apex court also barred the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation from approving, implementing, or giving effect in any manner.

September 21 has been fixed for the hearing of the substantive suit.

The plaintiff sought a declaration that the boundary between Rivers and Imo states as delineated in Nigeria’s administrative map 10th, 11th and 12th editions as well as other maps bearing similar delineation “are inaccurate, incorrect and do not represent the legitimate and lawful boundaries between the two states.”

It also sought a declaration that as far as the Nigerian administrative map 10, 11 and 12 editions and other maps bearing similar delineations of the boundaries between Rivers and Imo, are unlawful and void, they “cannot be relied on to determine the extent of the territorial governmental jurisdiction of Rivers State”.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Wednesday received a report of the Committee on Electoral Matters on a bill to amend the Electoral Act.

Recall that alleged details of the report had flooded social media in recent times.

This led the leadership of the House to insist it was yet to receive the Committee report.

The report was laid before the House at plenary by the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Aisha Jibril Dukku.