Traditional elders in Bendeghe Ekiem Community, Etung Local Government Area, Cross River State, have advised youngsters occupying disputed plots on the government-owned Cocoa Estate to execute an existing court order and remove the fields immediately.
The monarchs warned that continuing occupation of the plots in violation of the court’s order could result in legal ramifications and weaken the community’s dedication to the rule of law.
Chief Moses Ndep, Chairman of the Mbume Blocks of Clans Crisis Management Committee, issued the warning while interacting with journalists in Bendeghe Ekiem on Monday.
Ndep emphasised that respect for court decisions is still critical for maintaining peace and order, and that communities and people must avoid from taking the law into their own hands.
According to him, the disputed cocoa plots were legally awarded to contractors by the previous administration under a court consent judgement, and any attempt to challenge the judgement could represent the community as disrespecting lawful authority.
“The courts have commented on the issue. As law-abiding individuals, we must respect and adhere to judicial orders. Anything less might result in legal consequences for anyone involved, he said.
The traditional ruler spoke immediately after Dr Oscar Ofuka, former Special Adviser on Cocoa Development, handed over keys to a building gifted by him.
The building will serve as temporary housing for construction workers working on the 10-kilometer Ikom-Obudu road project.
Ndep noted that the controversy arose from a consent judgement obtained after cocoa-producing landowner communities sued the administration of former Governor Ben Ayade for unpaid royalties spanning 16 years.
As part of the settlement, over 1,000 hectares of cocoa fields were leased for six years to qualified allottees who paid the necessary payments into Cross River State Government accounts.
However, additional controversy erupted when a cocoa allocation commission under the present government of Governor Bassey Otu allegedly redistributed the same plots to new beneficiaries, resulting in overlapping claims and friction within the estate.
Ndep advised the teenagers to leave the fields and enable lawful processes to take place.
“I repeat: leave those farms to the lawful allottees. “If the occupants refuse to comply with the court order, the law will take its course,” he said.