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Tag: Bakassi Peninsula

  • PANDEF urges Tinubu to revisit Bakassi Peninsula hand over

    PANDEF urges Tinubu to revisit Bakassi Peninsula hand over

    The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revisit Nigeria’s ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, citing the devastating impact on displaced communities and the economic fortunes of Cross River State.

    Reading the statement of the body during a meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, PANDEF’s co-Chairman and former Akwa Ibom Governor, Obong Victor Attah, many other concerns of the people of that oil-rich Niger Delta region, including finding a lasting solution to the political crisis in Rivers State, the state of insecurity in the region and the need to prioritise the issue of fiscal federalism.

    The regional socio-cultural body lamented that the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling and the subsequent Green Tree Agreement had left thousands of Nigerians without their ancestral homes and means of livelihood.

    “The aftermath of this decision continues to haunt our people, displacing entire communities, depriving them of basic amenities, and threatening their cultural survival. We do not wish to dwell on past mistakes, but it is imperative to revisit this matter and explore ways to mitigate its impact on the affected communities,” Attah said.

    The PANDEF delegation also raised concerns over the escalating political crisis in Rivers State, calling on President Tinubu to intervene and ensure an amicable resolution between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

    Despite the President’s earlier mediation efforts, the crisis remains unresolved due to conflicting court rulings. 

    “Rivers State is an economic nerve center, and any instability there has dire consequences for the entire nation,” PANDEF warned.

    The forum revealed that it had constituted a High-Level Peace and Reconciliation Committee chaired by Obong Victor Attah to mediate in the crisis but stressed that the President’s direct intervention was necessary. 

    “Mr. President must impress upon all stakeholders that peace is paramount and that a solution must be found outside the courts,” Attah said.

    PANDEF further urged President Tinubu to sign into law the South-South Development Commission bill, stressing that it would complement the work of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in addressing regional development needs.

    “The NDDC was designed to tackle oil industry-related challenges, but the South-South Development Commission is necessary to drive overall development in the region,” the group explained.

    The leaders also decried the worsening security situation in the South-South, citing increasing cases of kidnappings, violent attacks, and sea piracy. 

    They warned that as security operations intensify in other parts of the country, criminal elements are shifting their activities to the region.

    “If left unchecked, this could push local communities toward self-help measures, a situation that could spiral out of control,” PANDEF cautioned. 

    The group called for improved intelligence gathering and security reinforcements, as well as the swift establishment of a Coast Guard to protect coastal communities.

    PANDEF highlighted the poor state of infrastructure in the Niger Delta, lamenting the slow progress on major roads such as the East-West Road, Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road, and Benin-Warri Highway. 

    They urged the federal government to accelerate these projects and prioritize the development of new deep-sea ports in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Edo States.

    On oil sector reforms, the leaders advocated for increased local participation, urging the appointment of qualified Niger Delta indigenes to top positions in the NNPC and other energy agencies.

    Read Also: PANDEF urges Tinubu to assent to South-South Development Commission Bill

    They also pushed for the implementation of modular refineries to curb illegal refining and reduce environmental pollution. 

    “The federal government must follow through on its commitment to support modular refineries as a way to address oil theft and create jobs,” PANDEF emphasized.

    The group concluded by urging President Tinubu to champion fiscal federalism, arguing that it remains the most viable path to national development.

    “This is an issue Your Excellency has long championed, and we believe your leadership can make true federalism a reality,” PANDEF stated.

    Reaffirming their support for the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Niger Delta leaders pledged continued cooperation with the federal government to ensure national stability and prosperity.

    “Your success will be our collective success,” Attah declared.

  • Gendarmes kill scores of Nigerians in A’Ibom fishing community

    Scores of Nigerians may have been killed and others missing following an alleged attacks by suspected Cameroonian gendarmes on Abana, a fishing community on the fringes the Bakassi Peninsula.

    The Village Head of Ifa Ikot Akpan in Uyo Local Government Area, Etteidung Edem Ebong, who confirmed the incident to reporters in Uyo, said the victims were mostly Akwa Ibom indigenes.

    The monarch added that several others have been abducted and detained at the detention facility in Cameroon.

    One of the fishermen, who escaped the incident and fled into his community in the coastal community of Uruan Local Government Area, Etebong Bassey, stated the unresolved problem of multiple taxations for Akwa Ibom and Cameroonian authorities triggered the fracas.

    “As fishermen, we have been paying multiple taxes to different authorities for Akwa Ibom and Cameroon for several years now and the youths became angry and protested over the issue.

    “So the Gendarmes cash in on the protest and invaded the communities within the Shell Creek area,” he explained

    According to him, those affected hailed from several Akwa Ibom communities including Ifa Ikot Akpan, Ekpene Ibia, Ikot Akan, Ikot Otoinye, Nnaenine and Ikot Inyang, all in Uyo and Uruan Local Government Areas.

    According to him: “Three days ago, some fishermen who are indigenes of Uyo and Uruan Local Government Areas, who visited home for a funeral ceremony were forced to returned on their way back to Abana, when they got a distress call that their homes in Abana had been invaded and several people killed, some abducted and properties destroyed”.

    Read Also: INEC office inferno will not stop polls – A’Ibom REC

    However, the monarch, who confirmed the development, appealed to the state and Federal Government for urgent intervention to rescue the missing victims.

    “Yes, the victims returned with tales of woe in my palace here. They told me their settlements at Abana had been destroyed with over 40 of them killed, while several others were arrested on trump up allegations of starting the problem that degenerated into a full blown crisis.

    “Therefore, I want to use this opportunity to kindly look into the crisis and communicate to appropriate authorities in the area to help release our people from captivity and save their lives as many of those affected are from my domain,” Etteidung Ebong lamented.

    However, Pastor Ekikere Umoh, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Obong Moses Ekpo, the state’s Deputy Governor, whose office is in-charge of boundary matters, said: “the office of the Deputy Governor has no business with communal wars”.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Odiko Macdon, a Police Superintendent, could not respond to calls sent to his phone for his reaction on the matter.

     

  • Reps to investigate alleged killing of 97 Nigerians by Cameroon’s gendarmes

    Reps to investigate alleged killing of 97 Nigerians by Cameroon’s gendarmes

    The House of Representatives, on Thursday resolved to investigate alleged killing of 97 Nigerians in the ceded Bakassi Peninsula by Cameroonian gendarmes.

    The resolution was sequel to a motion under “Matters of Urgent National Importance’’ by Rep. Babatunde Kolawole (Ondo-APC) on the need to investigate the report.

    Moving the motion, Kolawole said, “last week, there were several media reports that 97 Nigerians have been killed in Bakassi by Cameroonian gendarmes.

    “This is because they could not afford a N100, 000 levied on each fishing boat.

    “This is in spite of the clauses in the Green Tree Agreement signed between Nigerian and Cameroonian Governments which protect our citizens in the ceded areas from harm.

    “Apart from these recent attacks, there had been reports of harassments, rape and killings of Nigerians by the gendarmes over the years with the Nigerian government seemingly doing little or nothing to stop it.

    “If nothing is done to stop this ugly development, other Nigerian lives would be at risk as the gendarmes may continue to kill Nigerians at will without fear of recriminations.”

    Kolawole said that though there were reports that the Federal Government had summoned the Cameroonian Ambassador over the killings, there was need for the House, as the people’s parliament, to send a clear signal.

    “We will not sit and watch while the lives of our citizens are wasted with impunity.”

    Members spoke in favour of the motion, with some decrying the gendarmes’ perceived use of excessive force against Nigerian citizens in the ceded region.

    The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

    The motion was therefore referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for investigation.

  • Reps investigate alleged killing of 97 Nigerians by Cameroonian Gendarmes

    Reps investigate alleged killing of 97 Nigerians by Cameroonian Gendarmes

    The House of Representatives Thursday began investigation over the alleged killing of 97 Nigerians in the ceded Bakassi Peninsula, by Cameroonian Gendarmes.

    To this effect, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs has been mandated to investigate the matter and report back to the House for further legislative action.

    This was sequel to the passage of a motion brought under matters of urgent national importance by a member Hon. Babatunde Kolawole titled: “Alleged killing of 97 Nigerians by Cameroonian Gendarmes.”

    The lawmaker, while moving the motion said: “last week there were several media reports that 97 Nigerians have been killed in Bakassi by Cameroonian Gendarmes because they could not afford a N100, 000  ( Hundred Thousand Naira) levy on each fishing boat.

    “This is in spite of the clauses in the Green Tree Agreement signed between Nigerian and Cameroonian Governments which protect our citizens in the ceded areas from harm.

    “Apart from this recent attack, there have been reports of harassments, rape and killings of Nigerians by the Gendarmes over the years with the Nigerian government seemingly doing little or nothing to stop it.

    “If nothing is done to stop this ugly development, other Nigerian lives would be at stake as the Gendarmes may continue to kill Nigerians at will without fear of recriminations.”

    Kolawole said that though there are reports that the Federal government has summoned the Cameroonian Ambassador over the killings, there is need for the House as the People’s parliament to send a clear signal that “we will not sit and watch while the lives of our citizens are wasted with impunity.”

    Members were in support of the motion, and some lawmakers decried the attitude of the Cameroonian Gendarmes perceived use of excessive force against Nigerian citizens in the ceded Bakassi region.

    However, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnena Elendu- Ukeje cautioned the lawmakers saying that the issue is still in the realm of speculations and hence it should investigated before coming to a definitive conclusion.

    The Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara subsequently referred the motion to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for further investigation.

  • Ayade faults Bakassi’s ceding, says it’s unconstitutional

    Ayade faults Bakassi’s ceding, says it’s unconstitutional

    Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has faulted the ceding of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula by the federal government to the Republic of Cameroon as unconstitutional and ungodly.

    Speaking when he received the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas, at the Government House, Calabar, Ayade said, “We have a very big challenge. The ceding of Bakassi was the most unconstitutional and most ungodly act. Given the way and manner it was done the state it still hurts.”

    Describing it as a social injustice “that has left us with a scar,” he said “the people of Bakassi are living with an emotional and psychological scar as a result of the loss of their ancestral home. The ceding was done without a plebiscite, without a referendum which the people feel was a moral injustice. It has created a security tension; it has also created a crisis situation which rests on your shoulders to ensure that you put them under control in keeping with the presidential mandate of sanitizing the waterways.

    “I urge you to explore possible social and military actions that need to be taken in order to restore peace in the Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Odukpani axis of the maritime domain.”

    On the issue of the disputed 76 oil wells that were transferred to Akwa Ibom State, Ayade said: “It is a very sad news to report to you that the principle of the doctrine of changing circumstance which is a maritime principle in delineation of maritime boundary was grossly abused in the way and manner that the boundary between Cross River, Cameroun and Akwa Ibom was done. It was done in such a way that the maritime boundary is on a moving structure which is on top of water. Within the International Maritime Law, it is totally unacceptable.

    “So given the way and manner that the map is constructed, it puts us as a landlocked state. Unfortunately, in jurisprudence, there is no way you can claim that the state is landlocked when the inhabitants can go from Creek Town in Odukpani in their boat and end up in the high sea, where the oil activities within the wells that have been excluded from the state have accumulated impact by oil migration to these areas affecting the aquaculture, farming life of our people.”

    Querying the decision further, he said: “How can it (Cross River) not be a littoral state if I could sit in the office of the governor and I can see a large waterfront in front of me?”

    Earlier, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas, said he was on inspection of units and departments under his command following directives from President Muhammadu Buhari that maritime security and sanity be returned within the eastern waterways of the country. He explained that the presence of a new naval ship, NNS Centenary in Calabar and another in Port Harcourt were to take on that responsibility.

    Ibas disclosed that Calabar is the second largest host of the navy after Lagos, noting that it has adequate infrastructure and personnel to deliver on the president’s mandate.

    The Naval Chief said Cross River State government has always supported the Navy since its inception, disclosing that they intend to commission a five-star naval hospital in Calabar.

    The governor had earlier in the day played host to the Brigade Commander, 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Sanni Mohammed and the State Commandant, Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Clement Adesuyi Dayo, where he restated the need to reinforce security in the state following the influx of miscreants from other states as their activities within the Odukpani, Akpabuyo, Bakassi have negative impact on the peaceful nature of the state.

  • FG to Cameroon: Allow Nigerians in Bakassi to earn living

    FG to Cameroon: Allow Nigerians in Bakassi to earn living

    The Federal Government on Saturday urged the Cameroonian authorities to allow Nigerians living in Bakassi Peninsular to pursue legitimate activities for their livelihoods.

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, made the appeal in Abuja at the 32nd Session of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) meeting.

    He said the Federal Government was ready to protect the interest of all Nigerians irrespective of their place of domicile.

    “We also enjoin our compatriots living in Cameroon to continue to cooperate with the authorities in Cameroon, obey the laws and above all, live peacefully with their host communities,” the minister said.

    Adoke said the CNMC was able to achieve the transitional regime of five years provided by the Green Tree Agreement on the Bakassi zone.

    He also said the commission had signed the framework agreement on joint border security patrol.

    The minister added that the effort would help to curb insecurity in the zone.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that experts from both countries would jointly address issues relating to the boundary.

    The United Nations representative of CNMC, Mr. Said Djinnit, said the commission had endorsed agreement on 1,893 km out of estimated 2,100 km.

    While the Vice-Prime Minister of Cameroon, Mr. Amadou Ali, said the implementation of the international judgment of October 2002 was a success.

     

  • Determination of whether a state is a littoral state within Nigeria is a question of fact-2

    As the plaintiff is no longer a littoral state and as it has no Maritime Territory, the 76 oil wells which now lie offshore within another maritime territory not that of the plaintiff cannot be attributed to the plaintiff. In order that any Nigerian littoral state may be entitled to the attribution of any off-shore oil field/well within the 200 meters Isobath and the derivations therefrom, the oil field/well must lie off-shore but within the state’s Maritime Territory which means that the state itself must abut and/or lie contiguous or proximate to the sea and have a Maritime Territory up to the 200 meters Isobath.

    The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission did not demarcate any boundary at the August 2008 Inter-Agencies Kano retreat. The plaintiff would have remained a littoral state if the effort made by President Olusegun Obasanjo to retain the western part of Bakassi Peninsula in Nigeria had succeeded. The plaintiff would have retained the direct access to the sea. The 1st defendant emphasized

    1. The letter dated 4th January 2005 addressed to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo caption “Akwa Ibom/Cross River Interstate Maritime Boundary”.

    2. The letter dated 31st October 2006 on the political solution in respect of oil wells between Cross River State/Akwa Ibom State/Rivers State were based on the negotiation and expectation that the western parts of the Bakassi Peninsula would be retained as a Nigerian Territory. The International Court of Justice judgment was delivered in 2002. The Greentree Agreement between Nigerian and Cameroon governments was signed on June 12, 2006 while handing over of the entire Bakassi Peninsula was eventually completed on the August 14, 2008. There is now in existence a National Boundary Commission 2008 Map showing the seven littoral states in Nigeria after the handover of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon of which the plaintiff is not one of them. The status of the plaintiff was changed by the ICJ judgment which also disentitled the plaintiff from deriving benefits from the 76 oil wells which now belong to the 2nd defendant.

    The 1st defendant raised the following issues for determination –

    1. Whether there had been an agreement between the parties upon which the 1st defendant could be stopped from resiling.

    2. Whether the role played by the 1st defendant at her Inter-Agency Retreat held in Kano in August 2008 could be interpreted as a usurpation of the adjudicatory jurisdiction of the court.

    3. Whether from the combined effects of the judgment of the International Court of Justice and the judgment of this court in Suit No. SC.124/1999 which is reported as A-G Gross River State v. A-G Federation & anor (2005) 15 NWLR (Pt.947) Pg.71, the plaintiff has a seaward boundary, estuarine sector or maritime boundary to entitle it to oil wells located off shore.

    The 2nd defendant, Attorney-General Akwa Ibom State adopted and relied on documents as follows – 2nd defendant’s 1st Amended Statement of Defence deemed filed on 14/5/2012; the witnesses statement of Okokon Essien and Augustine Dominic Odokwo the Akwa Ibom State Surveyor-General and Director of Civil Litigation of the Ministry of Justice for and on behalf of the 2nd defendant, the 2nd defendant’s Final Written Address in disputing the claim of the plaintiff to the attribution of 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State.

    According to the brief facts of the 2nd defendant’s case, these 76 oil wells are located offshore the coast of Nigeria to which the plaintiff – the Cross River State represented by the Attorney-General of the State lays claim for the purpose of the payment of 13% derivation revenue pursuant to Section 162(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. The statement of claim of the plaintiff captions the bone of contention in this suit as follows –

    “This unilateral removal of the plaintiffs name among the beneficiaries of the 13% derivation fund and the recalcitrance of the 1st defendant to change the position culminated in the filing of this case.”

     

    As at the time of the institution of this suit, the controversial 76 oil wells were and are still attributed to Akwa Ibom State represented by the 2nd defendant. The Inter-Agency meeting of the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission held in August 2008 followed and relied on the 2008 littoral states maritime boundaries delineations by the National Boundary Commission. The letter of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to the Accountant General of the Federation in March 2009 forwarding the 2009 Revised 13% Derivation Indices for the payment of Derivation funds to littoral states omitted the name of Cross River State. It was decided at the RMAFC Inter-Agency meeting of the 15th April 2008 that in line with the National Boundary Commission Littoral States boundaries delineations

    The offshores oil wells will be attributed to the littoral states jointly by all the agencies using the co-ordinates to be supplied by the Department of Petroleum Resources under the supervision of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.”

    The RMAFC Inter-Agency Report was produced in August 2008. By virtue of Section 6(1)(b) of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act Cap R7 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the RMAFC is empowered to-

    a. “Monitor the accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the ‘Federation Account and review from time to time, the revenue allocation formulae and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities.

    b. Section 6(2)(b) of the Act also gives the RMAFC the power to demand and obtain regular and relevant information data or returns from any government agencies.”

    On the other hand, Section 7(c) of the National Boundary Commission Act Cap N10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 gives the National Boundary Commission the power to –

    a. Define and delimitate boundaries between states, local government areas or communities in the Federation and between Nigeria and her neighbours in accordance with delimitation instrument or document established for that purpose.

    At the RMAFC Inter-Agency Meeting of 15th April 2008, Cross River State was factually affirmed as a non-littoral state in Nigeria sequel to the judgment of the International Court of Justice in 2002 in the Cameroon/Nigeria Boundary dispute.

    The 2nd defendant gave the qualification of a littoral state, whether in Nigeria or anywhere in the world or whether a sovereign country or a state in a federation. Such state must have a territory which must abut or be contiguous to the sea; it must be possible to have direct access to the sea from the state without passing through any other state’s territory. Sequel to the judgment of the International Court of Justice delivered in 2002 and the ultimate execution in August 2008, Cross River State became landlocked and no part of its territory is contiguous to nor abuts the sea. The judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Attorney-General of Cross River State v. Attorney-General of the Federation and one other (2005) 15 NWLR (Pt.947) Pg.71 pronounced that Cross River State has no maritime boundary with Akwa Ibom State. The 2nd defendant highlighted that prior to the judgment of the International Court of Justice, Cross River State qualified as a littoral state because as at that time it had access to the sea through the Bakassi Peninsula and the estuarian part of the inland waters; the “Cross River”. The Cross River State used to claim a riparian territory abutting the sea through the peninsula and the estuary which then were part of Nigeria.

    The Bakassi Peninsula lies contiguous to the sea while the Cross River estuary empties into the sea. The fact of Bakassi Peninsula and the Cross River Estuary being part of Cross River State was the sole qualification and reason for being adjudged as a Nigeria littoral state. The National Boundary Commission 2008 Maritime Boundary Map did not reflect Cross River State as a littoral state. The 2nd defendant maintained that by virtue of Cross River State not being a littoral state and therefore not having any maritime territory, the 76 oil wells which are the subject matter of dispute in this suit and which lie offshore, within a maritime territory cannot be attributed to Cross River State. For any Nigerian littoral state to be entitled to the attribution of any offshore oil field/well within the 200 meters isobaths, the oil field/well must be offshore but within the State’s maritime territory which means that the state itself must abut and/or lie contiguous or proximate to the sea and have a maritime territory up to the 200 metres isobaths or as the case may be in some circumstances have a riparian territory abutting the sea.

  • ‘Why Federal Govt should institute fresh case over Bakassi Peninsula’

    With the expiration of the October 10 deadline set by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the review of its judgment delivered in 2002 on the Bakassi Peninsula, various interest groups have put forward arguments for the Federal Government’s institution of a fresh suit against the Republic of Cameroun.

    The ICJ had on October 10, 2002 based on the Anglo-German Treaty of 1913 where the Queen of England gave the territory to Germany, then colonial masters of Cameroun, ruled that the Bakassi territory belonged to Cameroun.

    This decision, according to a group, Bakassi for Public Information (D’BSCM) at a national dialogue on ‘citizens perspective on the resolution of the Bakassi crisis’, organised by PRONACO in Lagos, was reached because certain historical issues which constitute new facts were not canvassed before the court.

    D’BSCM advised the government to approach the IJC based on the fundamental principle of the critical date as well as the principle of ‘uti possidetis’ which is the sacrosanct of state boundary at the declaration of independence.

    Those present at the event were Director General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, Chairman, Bakassi Support Group, Sen. Basil Hanshaw, House of Representatives member, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, Chairman, June 12 Coalition, Baba Omojola, research expert, Mr. Emmanuel Doh, President, Arewa Consultative Youth Forum, Alhaji Shetima Yerima, member, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adijat Oladapo, wife of the late Gani Fawehinmi, Ganiat, and constitutional lawyer, Mohammed Fawehinmi, among others.

    The group which urged the Federal Government to file a suit against Cameroun at the ICJ, revealed that the latter never owned Bakassi before its independence of January 1, 1960 along the Thompson-Marchard Treaty of 1931.

    Doh, who is the group’s researcher, said there are two Cameroons with frontiers or boundaries fixed by treaties between Britain and France in 1919 and 1931 which were inherited at the declaration of independence.

    He said going by Article 16(1) of the O.A.U. declaration of July 21, 1964, in Cairo, Egypt, where “all member states undertake to respect the existing boundaries at the time of independence”, it was fraudulent for Cameroun to claim ownership of Bakassi.

    “The facts and law here are that, historically, politically, geographically and legally, there are two independent and bicultural Cameroons which are the French Cameroun and the English Southern Cameroon. The two legally separated Cameroons were class B United Nations (UN) trust territory with equal status, separate trusteeship agreement and separate administering authority.”

    He said the Millnar-Simon Treaty of 1919, between France and England divided Cameroun into two separate territories after Germany was defeated during the First World World, and recognised the boundary between the French Cameroun and English Cameroon running southward from boundary pillar 1, in Lake Chad to 138 into the Atlantic Ocean.

    Doh said: “The boundary was more than 600kms east of the Peninsula which excluded Bakassi from the French Cameroun territory and did not form part of the Thompson-Marchard Treaty.

    “By an England Order-in-Council in 1946, English Cameroon was divided into Northern and Southern protectorates which formed a part of the northern and southern English UN Trust Territories of Nigeria.

    “While the Northern Trust Territory was administered by the government of the northern region of Nigeria, the UN southern Cameroon Trust Territory was administered by the government of eastern region of Nigeria.

    “The English northern UN trust territory became part of Nigeria at independence while the southern territory had already become self governing in 1954 by an order of Queen-in-Council.

    “The 1931 boundary accepted by the ICJ as the definitive boundary between Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroun at independence did separate the land boundary of the Republic from that of the Southern Cameron, but in tracing the boundary from Lake Chad, the ICJ failed to run through to the last pillar, 138, in the Atlantic Ocean which clearly shows that Southern Cameroon with Bakassi Peninsula is to the west of the boundary separating it from the Republic of Cameroun.

    For Akinterinwa, although the ICJ and Green Tree Agreement (GTA) have stated that the Peninsula belongs to Cameroun, the people themselves have denied being a part of Cameroun and have also rejected a resettlement from their ancestral lands.

    He said since the country is faced with a difficult situation at the moment, the UN should be approached for the implementation of the GTA’s provision on the maintenance of the people’s culture, language and tradition.

    “Bakassi people are simply saying that they have not been well treated by the Cameroon government that has flaunted the GTA. Since the whole ceding of the Bakassi was predicated on colonial agreement which I think was all fraudulent and bearing in mind that land in Africa belongs to the people and not government, it is only wise for the people to be allowed to choose where they want to belong to.

    “The international community can be approached based on the people’s need for self determination and need to protect their rights in accordance with the GTA. Article 3 of the GTA provides for the protection of the rights of the people of Bakassi in compliance with all international conventions on the fundamental rights of people,” Akinterinwa said.

    Hanshaw decried the dehumanising treatments being meted on Nigerians at the Peninsula, even as he called on the government to act urgently to stop Cameroonian soldiers from flaunting the GTA.