The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions says it has power to enforce the court judgement of N13,848,949 awarded against Akwa Ibom Government to 13 villages in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state.
This came as a counsel to the Akwa Ibom government asked the National Assembly Committee to strike out a petition brought by the 13 villages before it against the State Government for lacking requisite jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Findings by NaijaGG that St. Gabriel Coconut Plantation and Oil Refinery Limited land owners in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area had petitioned Akwa Ibom State government to the National Assembly for flagrant refusal to comply with the judgement and pay N13,848,949 to the 13 Villages (Land Owners of the Deemed Customary Rights of Occupancy) since 2016.
The Committee on Public Petitions sat last Thursday and the petition was listed as No. 6 on the Cause List.
The 13 villages were represented by Barrister Jacob B. Udobang and Barrister B.P. Marcel, in company of the Executive Director, Aletheia Development Center, Sam Akpan-Nsubong 111.
Petitions, Hon. Michael Etaba after listening to the submissions by both Counsels on behalf of their respective parties, refused the application by Counsel to Akwa Ibom State government, Barrister Ekanem and ordered the two Counsels to submit their briefs with all necessary verifiable documents in support of the case.
He further stated that, the National Assembly has the power under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to enforce the judgment particularly, this very case before the National Assembly Committee on Public Petitions, since the judgment was obtained since 2021 and the petitioners could not enforce due to intrigues.
The committee, however, adjourned the case to October 15, 2024 for further hearing.
