No few than 10 Paramount Rulers in Akwa Ibom have applied to be joined in a suit brought to a Port Harcourt Federal High Court 3 by Association of indigenes of Oil and Gas communities in Akwa Ibom State.
the group, who represent Akwa Ibom communities had earlier dragged total E & P to court seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendant/ respondent or its agents or through any person from further actions, processes or meetings relating to the signing and implementation of a new memorandum of Understanding MOU between the Defendant and the indigenous Oil and Gas Communities of Akwa Ibom State, including the inauguration of any implementation committee, pending the final determination of the substantive suit.
They also sough that annual budget fund of N353 Million for infrastructure and n10 million for Business Development Fund ( Micro-credit Scheme) contained in the new expired MOU dated 10th December, 2009, be paid forthwith for this years; 2013 and in subsequent years into an interest yielding account in control of the Registrar of this Honourable Court…
In an application dated 18th day of November, ten paramount rulers namely
HRM Okuku (Prof) Noah Akpan, Ukanafun,
HRM Obong Cosmas Akpan –Essien Udim
Hrm Ubong (Apostle Dr) Owen Ukafia – Eastern Obolo
HRM Edidem (Dr ( Ime Udousoro Inyang – Ibiono
HRM Edidem Udo Joe Ntukobom - Ikot Abasi
HRM Edidem (Elder) Edet Akpan Inyang – Itu
HRM Ogivong Edet Antai Essang - Mbo
HRM Owong (Dr) Effiong Bassey Achianga -Ibeno
HRM Nteyen Solomon D. Etuk – Nsit Ibium
HRM Edidem Ime Dickson Umoete (Jp) – Etinan, have begged the court to be joined as defendants in the suit with the number FHC/PHC/CS/123/2013.
On why they applied to join a suit which they are not a party, one of the applicants, in an affidavit in support said, among others”… unless the applicants are joined as Defendants in this suit, they shall be greatly pre-juiced by the outcome of the suit one way or the another especially with regards to their rights as contained in the MOU signed between us and the Defendants/Respondents”.
But when contacted to make comments on how they feel about the decision of the royal fathers to join the suit, an officer of the Association of Oil and gas communities said “it was the peak of sabotage, fueled by naked greed and poverty”. It is too shameful to see our royal fathers dancing naked in the market. They are all beneficiaries of the fraud. All of them divert scholarship, employments and other benefits accruing of Akwa Ibom communities into their families, scholarship money and other are paid into their private accounts. They are completely loyal to TOTAL who has bribed them all.
History and posterity will not forgive them. It has never happened in the history of Oil exploration and exploitation in Nigeria that Royal fathers will support a multinational company openly against their people. They are vultures who eat from where they never sowed. They have disappointed Akwa Ibom people. Their integrity is in question. They are only coming to court to justify the huge bribe they received from TOTAL!
The case was earlier adjourned to the 12th December, 2013 and on that day, the Royal fathers came in a 7 jeep convoy to the court to support TOTAL against A’Ibom communities but the case was put off. A date was announced – 15th January as they came out of the court, Akwa Ibom people who reside in Port Harcourt booed at them and refused to go and greet them. They called them many names like Akwa Ibom vulture! Traitors!!!
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