Gov Ayade dragged to court over superhighway project

The Okuni community in Ikom Local Council of Cross River State, the
Olulumo/Okuni clan head, Okim Anthony Ori Ndoma and three others have
sued the state government and two other defendants for N2 billion, as
general damages.

The claimants, who are registered trustees of the Rainforest Resources
and Development Centre (RRDC), are also seeking an injunction
restraining the state government from the construction of the 275km
superhighway project across their land pending the determination of an
earlier suit.

In the suit filed by their counsel, O. N. Agbor, the community is
seeking an order for the state government to pay N2 billion as general
damages for "the destruction of their cultural heritage and natural
resources.

"They are also seeking an order declaring government's forceful
acquisition of their land in Okuni and others as "unconstitutional,
null and void in view of non-payment of compensation in accordance
with section 44(1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria as amended."

The claimants said the community has a population of over 30,000
people and in spite of all anomalies, absence of a conclusive impact
studies, "bulldozers and other heavy earth moving equipment have been
moved into our land and are already causing havoc, damage and
devastating our ancestral land.

"Our economic trees and crops affected by bulldozers of the defendants
include cocoa, oil palms, mangoes; yams, cassava and timbers. These
farms span about five hectares put together valued at N100 million per
hectare."

The state government and the other defendants have not filed any
defence since though the court had ordered hearing notice to be served
on them twice.