The Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained the Federal Government and its agencies from ceding 17 oil wells to Imo State.
The oil wells are located in Akri and Mgbede communities where their boundaries are being disputed by the Rivers and Imo State governments.
The order of injunction was granted to stop a purported implementation of the ceding of the oil wells to Imo State pending the determination of a suit brought before the apex court by the Rivers State government.
In a chamber ruling on an ex-parte application argued by Emmanuel Ukala, the lawyer to Rivers State, the Supreme Court restrained the Attorney General of Federation and the Attorney General of Imo State who are the 1st and 2nd defendants from taking any further action on the ownership of the oil wells until the dispute is resolved.
Also barred by the order “from approving, implementing or giving effect in any manner” in a letter from RMAFC office with refence number RMC/O&G/47/1/264, are the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
The apex court has fixed September 21 for the hearing of the substantive suit.
Background
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.
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.”
The plaintiff 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”.
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