The Supreme Court has fixed May 6th for judgement in a legal battle between Rivers and Imo States over the ownership of 17 oil wells in their territories.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola who led panel of justices fixed the date after adoption of written addresses by the lawyers.
The Counsel for River State, Joseph Daodu, SAN while adopting his final addresses asked the court to give judgement in favour of Rivers State on the ground that historical evidence right from 1927 till date clearly indicated that the oil well belongs to the State.
Daodu also drew the attention of the court to the boundary adjustment paper of 1976 where Ndoni and Egbema were confirmed to belong to Rivers state and that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
On his part, Counsel for Imo State, Olusola Oke asked the apex court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that it ought to have originated from the Federal High Court because of the nature of the matter and oral evidence ought to have been called for from the people of the area to confirm where they actually belong.
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Counsel for the AGF, Remi Olatubora, who aligned himself with the position of Imo state, insisted that witnesses including official of the National Boundary Commission, Surveyor General of the Federation and indigenes of the disputed areas ought to be heard .
The judgement has been fixed for May 6.
Rivers state had taken the Attorney General of the Federation and the Attorney General of Imo State before the Supreme Court seeking a declaration that the boundary between Rivers and Imo states as delineated on Nigeria administrative map.
Editor, Omor Bazuaye
