“Oil Well Not Returning to Cross River” – Uko Adam

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Akwa Ibom State, Uko Adam SAN has debunked media reports suggesting that the 76 disputed oil wells would be returned to Cross River states, insisting that the matter has already been settled by two Supreme Courts.

Reports has stated that the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission had projected Cross River State to be relisted as an oil producing state after receiving the final report of the Federal Government’s Inter-Agency Committee on oil-producing states.

Speaking during a media interaction held at the Government House Conference Hall on Monday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom Attorney General explained that the state had reviewed the report and restated the facts to prevent misinformation and deliberate distortion of constitutional realities.

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“Akwa Ibom State Government has carefully reviewed recent media reports suggesting that oil wells attributed to Akwa Ibom State may be ‘returned’ to Cross River State following the submission of a ‘report’ by a Federal Government Inter-Agency Committee to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. We consider it necessary to restate the facts clearly and authoritatively, in order to prevent misinformation and deliberate distortion of constitutional realities.

“Firstly, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission has publicly clarified that what it received on 13th February 2026 is a draft report, not a decision, not an approved recommendation, and certainly not a reallocation of oil wells. The Commission has described the circulating claims as speculative and not reflective of any final position.”

Udom emphasized that the Supreme Court has dismissed Cross River’s calls and claims over the estuarine southern territory, where all the oil wells are situated.

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“The Court made it clear that the October 10, 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice on the land and maritime boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon had fundamentally altered Cross River State’s coastal status. The Court affirmed that the ICJ decision effectively eliminated Cross River’s estuarine sector, with the legal implication that Cross River no longer possessed a seaward boundary.

“Subsequently, despite Akwa Ibom State’s efforts to promote peaceful engagement and preserve kinship and harmony, further litigation was initiated by Cross River State seeking clarification on offshore entitlements.
“On 10th July 2012, the Supreme Court again ruled decisively in favour of Akwa Ibom State, holding that: Cross River State was no longer a littoral state entitled to offshore derivation. The ruling effectively recognized Akwa Ibom as the rightful owners of the disputed oil wells.”

For now, Akwa Ibom State maintains that the Supreme Court judgment remains final and binding and that the oil well belongs to it.