The Supreme Court on Friday partly resolved the dispute in the 17 oil well ownership, in favour of the Rivers State government.
In a judgement prepared by Justice Ellen Ogunwumiju, but delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the Apex court dismissed the counterclaim ownership put forward by the Imo State Government.
According to Justice Agim, Reliefs 1,3,4,5 and 6 sought by the Rivers State Government were granted by the court, Reliefs 2,7 and 10 were, however, refused.
On February 7, while the parties adopted their final briefs of argument, the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, had prayed the court to dismiss the suit, and to direct Rivers State to go and file before the Federal High Court, on the ground that before the suit can be amicably resolved, witnesses from the disputed area needed to be called.
The AGF and Imo, who are defendants in the matter, further demanded that the intervention of the national boundary intervention will also be required to give evidence before any conclusion can be drawn.
However, counsel for Rivers State, Joseph Daodu, had opposed the demand of the AGF and Imo State and asked the apex court to dismiss it.
He argued that documentary evidence, placed before the court, is enough for the Supreme Court to resolve all issues in a dispute about the oil well.
Details of the judgement will be made available to parties in due course.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
