News
Eviction: 1,415 cocoa farmers floor Gov Otu in court
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State’s directive for 1,415 cocoa farmers to vacate their lands has been thwarted by a high court in Effraya, Etung Local Government Area. The court issued an interim injunction preventing the state government from carrying out the eviction.
The hectares of land had been allocated to the farmers by the immediate past administration led by Prof Ben Ayade. However, the state government’s cocoa allocation committee, chaired by Mr. Ebori Nku, deemed their occupancy illegal despite meeting all requirements.
Mr. Charles Mgbe and other allottees took legal action against the State government, represented by suit no. HE/16/2024, over the threat of eviction.
Representing the farmers, Counsel Ntufam Mba Ukweni Esq, SAN, approached the court seeking relief.
Presiding judge, Justice Amajama Eneji, granted the injunction, restraining the state government and its representatives from harassing, intimidating, or evicting the farmers.
Justice Amajama emphasized the importance of justice and ordered the defendants to refrain from any actions against the farmers.
The court set the hearing for the motion on notice for April 29, 2024.
Counsel for the claimants reiterated the farmers’ rights and indicated that the government would be summoned to court. He emphasized that the farmers had fulfilled their obligations, and the government’s failure to honor the agreement was unjust.
The court’s order prohibits the government from evicting the farmers until they present their case.
Issues regarding the allocation and ownership of cocoa farms in Etung have arisen following the inauguration of a new cocoa allocation committee by Governor Otu.
Dangote Refinery has announced that it will need to export 95-97 percent of its Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) due to low interest from Nigerian marketers. The refinery, which processes 650,000 barrels per day, revealed that only 3 to 5 percent of petrol marketers are purchasing its fuel.
Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, shared these details during an X Space session hosted by Nairametrics on Wednesday. He highlighted the challenges facing both the Dangote Refinery and Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Edwin explained, “I’m selling 2 to 3 percent to small traders who are willing to buy, while the remaining 95 to 97 percent has to be exported,” referring to the local sales of the refinery’s products.
This situation arises as the NNPCL’s deadline for adjusting the Dangote Refinery’s fuel distribution approaches without a clear plan in sight. It is worth noting that while Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has announced the refinery’s initial petrol rollout, its distribution to marketers is contingent upon NNPCL’s decisions.
The final sixteen teams for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia have been determined following the conclusion of the group stage.
In recent matches, Ghana triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 3-1, and Japan secured a 2-0 victory against Austria.
As a result, Japan has advanced to the Round of 16, joining the other 15 teams in this knockout stage.
The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
The full lineup for the Round of 16 is as follows:
- Spain vs Canada
- Brazil vs Cameroon
- Colombia vs South Korea
- Mexico vs USA
- North Korea vs Austria
- Germany vs Argentina
- Netherlands vs France
- Japan vs Nigeria
The Nigerian Army has refuted claims of widespread resignations among its soldiers due to issues like corruption and low morale.
In a statement, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, dismissed these reports as unfounded.
A news outlet had alleged that numerous Nigerian soldiers were resigning because of corruption and low morale. However, the statement condemned these allegations as misleading and a deliberate attempt to create discontent and undermine the Nigerian Army’s reputation and the dedication of its personnel.
Major General Nwachukwu clarified that, similar to other military organizations worldwide, service in the Nigerian Army is voluntary rather than mandatory. This means that personnel have the freedom to resign following established procedures.
He explained that the resignation process allows personnel to prepare and manage their entitlements, including pensions and gratuities, as outlined in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers/Soldiers).
Contrary to the report’s implications, the statement emphasized that Nigerian Army personnel are highly motivated, and their welfare is a priority under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
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