Why Akwa Ibom-Cross River Oil Dispute Cannot Be Reopened, Ex-AGF Aondoakaa Explains
- Former AGF Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) stated that the Akwa Ibom–Cross River oil boundary dispute is legally settled
- Aondoakaa affirmed that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Nigerian Supreme Court rulings were fully implemented
- The former minister of justice criticised attempts to revisit the issue, warning that it undermines both national and international law
Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), has said that the legal dispute over the oil-rich boundary between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states has been conclusively resolved, both domestically and internationally, and cannot be reopened.
Speaking on ARISE News on Friday, August 1, Aondoakaa said the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the Bakassi Peninsula, along with two separate rulings by the Supreme Court, had been fully implemented.
Source: Twitter
He described any attempt to revisit the case as “legally baseless” and warned it would undermine the integrity of domestic and international law.
Bakassi handover was final - Aondoakaa
Aondoakaa, who served as chairman of the boundary committee and co-led the implementation of the Green Tree Agreement that followed the ICJ judgment, said the process was completed meticulously.
“The Bakassi handover was the final stage. The judgment was enforced to the letter,” he said.
According to the former AGF, the ICJ ruling resulted in Cross River state losing its littoral status, which effectively stripped it of legal access to offshore oil resources. He added that the Supreme Court, Nigeria's apex court, upheld this position twice, both times siding with Akwa Ibom state.
Oil dispute: Cross River had its day in court -Aondoakaa
The former minister of justice criticised recent efforts to revive the dispute, accusing certain groups of politicising the issue. He noted that Cross River had failed to attend key meetings with the National Boundary Commission.
“For five days in Calabar, boundary officials waited. No Cross River representative appeared. Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom cooperated and made its case,” he said.
Aondoakaa further added that then-Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, who chaired the Commission, showed empathy towards Cross River. However, he said the state weakened its position by refusing to engage.
Despite its legal victory, Aondoakaa revealed that Akwa Ibom voluntarily agreed to pay Cross River N250 million monthly as a gesture of goodwill, an offer that was accepted.
He also emphasised that all elements of the Green Tree Agreement, including village realignments and territorial adjustments, were carried out under international supervision.
“We had meetings in Switzerland. The process was witnessed and monitored by five global powers. Nigeria honoured its commitment and upheld the rule of law,” he said.
Aondoakaa calls for respect for legal agreements
Aondoakaa stressed the importance of respecting binding international decisions, especially for a regional leader like Nigeria.
“If we cherry-pick which judgments to obey, we lose credibility. We accepted villages returned from Cameroon, we must also accept those ceded,” he stated.
He declared the matter legally and diplomatically closed, warning that further agitation was both futile and irresponsible.
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OPL 245: Tinubu hailed for ending 28-year oil dispute
In another report, the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) praised President Bola Tinubu's recent decision regarding the prolonged dispute over the contentious Oil Prospecting Licence OPL 245.
The organisation, represented by its chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, stated in a release in Abuja that the president's action signifies a positive step in resolving government-corporate complexities.
IMPI emphasised that Tinubu's move was driven by the national interest and the potential economic gains from developing the oil block.
Source: Legit.ng
