The Supreme Court has scheduled judgment for May 6 in the dispute between Rivers and Imo states over the ownership of the 17 oil wells housed by 37 Akri and Mgbede communities.
A panel of the court, led by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, chose the date yesterday after lawyers to parties made their final submissions and adopted their written briefs in the suit filed by Rivers State.
In the suit, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Imo State Attorney General were both cited as defendants.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), contended that historical evidence from 1927 till date indicated that the communities housing the oil wells fall within Rivers State’s territory.
Daudu urged the court to note the boundary adjustment documents of 1976 in which Ndoni and Egbema were confirmed to belong to Rivers State.
He criticized the argument by the AGF and Imo AG that the suit ought to have been commenced at the Federal High Court because oral evidence ought to be taken from the witnesses drawn from the communities.
Daudu also argued that the Supreme Court possesses original jurisdiction over the case and could rely solely on existing historical documents from the colonial era to determine the real owners of the communities where the oil wells are located.
He urged the court to hold in his client’s favour.
