Traditional rulers in Bendeghe Ekiem Community, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, have urged youths occupying disputed plots within the government-owned Cocoa Estate to obey a subsisting court order and immediately vacate the farms.
The monarchs warned that continued occupation of the plots in defiance of the court’s directive could attract legal consequences and undermine the community’s commitment to the rule of law.
Chairman of the Crisis Management Committee of Mbume Blocks of Clans, Chief Moses Ndep, gave the warning while speaking with journalists in Bendeghe Ekiem on Monday.
Ndep stressed that respect for court judgments remains essential for maintaining peace and order, noting that communities and individuals must refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
According to him, the disputed cocoa plots were legally allocated to contractors by the previous administration under a consent judgment of the court, and any attempt to resist the judgment could portray the community as being in contempt of lawful authority.
“The courts have spoken on the matter. As law-abiding citizens, we must respect and obey court orders. Anything short of that could expose those involved to legal sanctions,” he said.
The traditional ruler spoke shortly after the handover of keys to a building donated by former Special Adviser on Cocoa Development, Dr Oscar Ofuka.
The facility will serve as temporary accommodation for workers of a construction firm working on a 10-kilometre Ikom-Obudu road project.
Ndep explained that the dispute originated from a consent judgment secured after cocoa-producing landlord communities sued the administration of former Governor Ben Ayade over unpaid royalties spanning 16 years.
As part of the settlement, over 1,000 hectares of cocoa farms were leased for six years to approved allottees who paid the required fees into Cross River State Government accounts.
However, fresh controversy emerged when a cocoa allocation committee under the current administration of Gov Bassey Otu reportedly reallocated the same plots to new beneficiaries, leading to overlapping claims and tension within the estate.
Appealing for calm, Ndep urged the youths to vacate the farms and allow lawful processes to prevail.
“I repeat, leave those farms for the rightful allottees. If those occupying them refuse to comply with the court order, the law will take its course,” he warned.
Obey court order, vacate disputed cocoa estate plots – Cross River monarchs tell youths
Source: dailypost.ng