In a strong call for legal compliance, traditional authorities from Bendeghe Ekiem in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State have demanded that local youths immediately leave the contested plots within the state-owned cocoa plantation. The monarchs stressed that defying a court order to remain on the land could result in legal repercussions and damage the community’s dedication to judicial processes.
Chief Moses Ndep, heading the Mbume Blocks of Clans Crisis Management Committee, issued the warning during a media briefing held in Bendeghe Ekiem on Monday. He highlighted that respecting judicial rulings is vital for sustaining peace and order, and cautioned against any vigilante actions.
The disputed cocoa plots, according to Ndep, were lawfully assigned to contractors by the previous administration under a consent judgment, and any opposition to that judgment might be viewed as contempt of court. “The courts have made their decision. As responsible citizens, we must honor and adhere to court directives. Failure to do so could bring legal actions against the offenders,” he remarked.
The traditional leader spoke shortly after handing over keys to a building contributed by Dr. Oscar Ofuka, the former Special Adviser on Cocoa Development. The structure will serve as short-term accommodation for employees of a construction company engaged in a 10-kilometer road project connecting Ikom and Obudu.
Ndep traced the root of the conflict to a consent judgment reached after cocoa-producing landlord communities filed a lawsuit against former Governor Ben Ayade’s administration for unpaid royalties spanning 16 years. As part of the resolution, more than 1,000 hectares of cocoa farms were leased for six years to approved allottees, who paid the requisite fees to the state government’s accounts.
However, tensions escalated when a cocoa allocation committee under the current Governor Bassey Otu allegedly reassigned the same plots to new recipients, sparking overlapping claims and unrest within the estate. Ndep appealed for calm, urging the youths to vacate the farms and allow legal mechanisms to take precedence. “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.