Bakassi: Reps, NBA, others fault FG’s failure to file review

October 10, 2012 by John Ameh, Olusola Fabiyi and Ihuoma Chiedozie 

 

The House of Representatives on Tuesday criticised the Federal Government over its failure to file for a review of the International Court of Justice judgment on Bakassi Peninsula.

The deadline for filing for a review of the 2002 judgment, ceding Bakassi to Cameroon expired on Tuesday.

The House had passed a resolution two weeks ago asking the Federal Government to file for the review on grounds of “new facts.”

But, on Monday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Bello Adoke, said the country had no chance of winning the case as there were no new facts to back a review.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, described the government’s position as disheartening.

“It is better to try and lose than not trying at all.

“The people of Bakassi, how will they feel now?

“Anybody could have been caught up in Bakassi”, he added.

The Nigerian Bar Association also kicked against the government’s stance.

The NBA President, Mr. Emeka Wali, lamented the development.

Speaking in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, Wali said with reservations that the NBA was not included in the committee set up by Jonathan to consider the possible review of the judgment.

He said, “We don’t have the clear picture, a committee was set up to consider the appeal but unfortunately the NBA was not part of that committee.

“So we do not know which documents were made available to them that they considered insufficient.

“It is unfortunate. It is a pity.”

The Congress for Progressive Change, in its reaction said it was saddened by the government’s stance.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin said, “By virtue of Section12 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, the implementation of the Green tree Agreement of 2006 without the passage of Act of the National Assembly is illegal.”

Meanwhile, an Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday failed to deliver ruling in a suit in which Bakassi indigenes sought an order compelling Jonathan and the Federal Government to void the Green Tree Agreement signed with Cameroon in 2006, and also repossess the Bakassi Peninsula.

The court presided, by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, had after listening the ex parte motion by the Bakassi indigenes on Friday, adjourned the ruling to Tuesday.

Kolawole had explained that he needed time to carefully study the court processes in view of weighty national issues raised in the suit before ruling on the motion.

But the ruling did not take place on Tuesday as the court could not sit.

It was learnt that the judge was not around.

No adjourned date was taken in the matter.

SOURCE: The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper10 October 2012.