The Rivers State Government has applauded the bold step taken by the Revenue Mobilization and Allocation and Fiscal Commission in implementing the Federal High Court judgment, directing that all proceeds from the Soku oil fields be henceforth paid to Rivers State.
This follows the court decision affirming rivers as the rightful owner of the Soku oil fields located in Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers State.
Speaking when he played host to a delegation of the Commission on Tuesday, Governor Wike, says Rivers State has no problem with Bayelsa State. He however warns that his State would not fold its hands and watch what rightfully belongs to it is illegally taken away.
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The dispute over the Soku oil fields between Rivers and Bayelsa state dates several years back, with the two States laying claim to ownership of the oil fields that were ceded to Bayelsa state during the administration of former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
The matter was however resolved in 2019, when the Federal High Court ruled that the oil fields located in Akuku-Toru local government area, rightfully belong to Rivers State and accordingly ordered the transfer of ownership from Bayelsa to Rivers State.
The court also directed that proceeds from the oil wells be henceforth paid to Rivers state.
Justice Inyang Ekwo held that all the documents from the relevant government agencies and facts before the court proved that the Soku oil wells belong to Rivers State.
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He noted that the issue arose from an error in the boundary demarcation between the two States and ordered the National Boundary Commission to rectify the error in its 11th edition of the administrative map which designated Sam Bartholomew river as the boundary, between the two States instead of River Santa Barbara.
The error was said to have surfaced again in the boundary commission’s 11th edition of administrative map.
And in response to the protest made by the Rivers State government, the boundary commission had in a letter dated July 3, 2002, admitted the mistake and promised to rectify it in the 12th edition of the administrative map.
Following the failure of the Commission to rectify the mistake as promised, the Rivers State government then approached the court.
Governor Nyesom Wike who on Tuesday received a delegation from the revenue mobilization, allocation and fiscal commission says justice has prevailed.
He also warns that his administration will resist every attempt to take away what rightfully belongs to Rivers State.
Governor Nyesom Wike also used the opportunity to call on the revenue commission to review the current revenue sharing formula which he says is largely tilted in favour of the Federal Government.
Edited by Tunde Orebiyi.
