Court bars Akwa Ibom Govt. from seizing Ekpri Nsukara community land

A High Court in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, has restrained the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources; the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and the Akwa Ibom State Government from forceful acquisition of Ekpri Nsukara Offot Community’s school land until a subsisting suit filed by the village is decided.

The order of interim junction was granted on Thursday, December 12, 2024 by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Joy I. Unwana of the High Court of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, in the Uyo Judicial Division, in suit no. HU/306/2024, upon a motion Ex-Parte brought before the Court by Ekpri Nsukara Offot Village in Uyo Local Government Area, through their Counsel, Samuel Ikpo, Esq.

The Court, upon its consideration of the application, affidavit in support, exhibits attached thereto and written address on the Motion Ex-Parte by the Village against the government, ordered that “an Order of Interim Injunction be and is hereby issued against the Defendants/Respondents, restraining them, their agents, servants, workmen and whosoever acting on their behalf from further entering the Land measuring 4.321 Hectares and delineated in Survey Plan No. JEJ/AK/75576.”

The order also barred the Defendants/Respondents, their agents, servants, workmen and whosoever, from carrying out any manner of work in the Land pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed on the 9th day of August, 2024.

The Court adjourned the case to the 18th day of December, 2024 for the Motion on Notice.

It read, “That an Order of Interim Injunction be and is hereby issued against the Defendants/Respondents, restraining them, their agents, servants, workmen and whosoever acting on their behalf from further entering into the Claimants/Applicants’ parcel of land lying, situate and being at Ekpri Nsukara Road, Ekpri Nsukara Offot, Uyo measuring an area of 4.321 Hectares more particularly delineated in SURVEY PLAN NO. JEJ/AK/75576 and doing any manner of work thereon pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice filed on the 9th day of August, 2024.

“That this case is adjourned to the 18th day of December, 2024 for Motion on Notice.”

Etteidung Asikpo, Village Head of Ekpri Nsukara

The community had approached the court on August 9, 2024 for arbitration following series of forceful means by persons claiming to be Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources to acquire the community’s land where its only educational institution, the Ekpri Nsukara Offot International Schools (ENISCO) was built.

The recent case being the invasion of the Ekpri Nsukara Offot International Schools’ compound during school hours at about 11:45am on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 and carried out demolition of some parts of the perimeter fencing and some adjoining buildings, a situation that almost degenerated to a violent clash with members of the community if not for the quick intervention of the Village head, Eteidung Emem Denis Asikpo and the Principal of ENISCO, Elder Domingo Bassey Etim, who doubles as the secretary to the Village council, as they calmed frayed nerves and ensured the officials were not attacked.

However, it was learnt that since the Community approached the court for arbitration on the matter, the defendants in the case – the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; the Ministry of Lands and Water Resources; the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and the Akwa Ibom State Government have not made appearances or file statements of defence.

The Village head of Ekpri Nsukara Offot, Eteidung Emem Denis Asikpo lamented that the community has not received any official notification from the government for the acquisition of their land, either have they received compensation or formally discussed the matter, thereby creating fears that the officials involved may merely be promoting their selfish interests.

Eteidung Asikpo further appealed to the state Governor, Pastor Umo Eno to step into the matter so as to save the community’s school from extinction.

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