Delta Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (6th r); the Secretary to Government, (SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu (3rd l), with the Chairman, Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Major Gen Felix Mujakperuo Orhue 1 (5th r); the Vice Chairman, Ukoko’ R’ivie Urhobo, HRM Solomon Okukeren III, the Ovie of Arhavearien Kingdom (6th l), and other Royal fathers shortly after a courtesy call by the leadership of Urhobo Traditional Rulers Community on the Governor at Government House, Asaba. Pix Enarusai Bripin…READ FULL ARTICLE...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
A human rights lawyer, Ntufam Mba Ukweni, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has charged the Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Out, to heed to advice of the state Solicitor General on the contentious cocoa allocation issues in Etung Local Government Area of the state in the interest of peace.
Ukweni, a Calabar-based constitutional lawyer, made the appeal in Càlabar shortly after a Càlabar Magistrate Court failed to grant bail to ex-aide to immediate past Governor Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development and Control, Dr Oscar Ofuka, who had been in critical condition in the last three weeks after he slumped in court.
Ofuka’s ordeal with Governor Otu’s administration began following the allocation of hectares of cocoa allocated to people during the era of immediate past administration where the allocation spanned beyond Ayade’s tenure.
Although the allocation was done by the Ayade’s administration following two consent judgements of the state High Court that ordered the previous administration to extend the allocation for 1415 hectares from the total 400 hectares of cocoa to be leased out so that the administration can have money to offset a 16-year-old debt the state government owed the cocoa landlords communities of Etung, beginning from the Liyel Imoke’s administration to Ayade’s administration.
Recall that the cocoa landlords communities of Etung had dragged the government of Ben Ayade to court over the state government debt burden, a situation that warranted the state High Court to order the administration of Ayade to make all payments regarding to cocoa allocation through a Smart.gov platform that makes it possible for tbe landlord communities to be getting thier royalties upon payment into the state government coffers.
Following that consent judgements, exact time money is paid for the allocation, the money would automatically split itself into three units, 49.5 percent would move straight into the account of cocoa landlords communities, 40.5 percent moves into the account of internal revenue service, which belongs to the Cross River State government, while 10 percent goes to the account of Cocoa Development and Control.
Reasons for the court decision were to prevent the embarrassment associated with garnishing of Cross River State government account to satisfy indebtedness and to prevent the cocoa landlords’ communities from taking over the estate.
Recall that the Solicitor General of the state had in a letter drew the attention of the state governor to the fact that some individuals in government have thier personal interest to protect regarding the conflict that exists in allocation of cocoa in state government owned cocoa estate.
Again, recall that the Solicitor General of the state had in July 27, 2023, written a letter Ref. Number MOJ/SG/PS/ Vol.1/197 to the state governor with 14 documents attached, advising the state government on way forward regarding consent judgements given by court, and on the need for the consent judgements to be honoured.
Speaking against the backdrop of the ongoing ordeal that Ayade’s ex-aide Dr. Oscar Ofuka is going through in the hands of Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s administration, Ukweni called for caution warning that should anything goes wrong with Ofuka, consequences must follow given the fact that Ofuka was only an agent to the immediate past administration and not the one in charge, stressing that money that was received was paid into account of the state government and not into Ofuka’s account.
The human rights lawyer accused Secretary to State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan, of being behind Ofuka’s travail simply because he has personal interest he has been protecting.
“Most of you are aware of this problem. It’s is the cocoa in Etung. I must be frank to state clearly that Secretary to State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, using the State Security Adviser, retired Maj. Gen. Okoi Obono, now want to eliminate my client.
“Most of them had been working behind to appropriate the farm and sell part of it. There’s a vast portion of land they want to sell to one Mark Prince. It was Ofuka who met with the governor in their presence and let the governor know that that parcel of land does not belong to the father of Mark Prince’s late grandfather.
“And that there is even a judgement of the court in favour of the state government. There have been various litigations in respect of this, we even have an order of High Court of Etung”, Ukweni said.
Ofuka who is standing trial during appearance at the magistrate court on allegation of murder after death of one of the workers at the cocoa estate was later ordered to be taken to the police clinic where he can have access to medical servicen because of his illness health.
However, Secretary to State Government and the State Security adviser have since denied thier involvement in Ofuka’s travail….READ FULL ARTICLE
