The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has expressed confidence that the State would get justice in Supreme Court to retain its oil wells from those claiming ownership of the investments.
The oil wells are located in Akri and Mgbede communities where their boundaries are being disputed by the Rivers and Imo State governments.
The Governor made the assertion on Sunday, September 26, 2021 during the Church Thanksgiving Service in commemoration of Nigeria’s 61st Independence Day Celebration at the Government House Chapel, Owerri, the State capital.
He said, “Imo State will eventually get justice at the Supreme Court and get back what belongs to her”.
The Governor, who revealed that the State would be receiving an additional N8 billion monthly from Federal Allocation, explained that the oil wells located in the State were ceded to Rivers State for over 20 years now, stressing that the Supreme Court will give Imo justice.
According to the Governor, though the Committee on Boundary Adjustment through boundary demarcation had given back the oil wells to the state, the Rivers Government had taken the matter to the Supreme Court.
Governor Uzodimma also disclosed that despite the fact that some of the disputed oil wells are located in Local Government Areas like Ejemekwuru in Oguta LGA, Imo State, some selfish Imo indigenes, benefiting from the scam, are working against the recovery process.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday fixed November 1, 2021 for definite hearing in the legal battle between Rivers and Imo over the ownership of 17 oil wells.
The apex court fixed the date after the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st defendant and Imo state as 2nd defendant formally made appearances through their lawyers, Remi Olatubura, SAN and Chief Olusola Oke, SAN respectively.
Justice Kekere Ekun set the stage for determination of the suit instituted by Rivers State against its Imo state counterpart shortly after identifying some of the processes so far filed for and against the legal action.
Ekun who led a panel of seven Justices of the court in a short ruling ordered parties in the suit to file and exchange fully their respective processes between now and Nov. 1 when the suit would be heard.
