Cross River Community Monarchs Order Youths Off Govt Cocoa Estate Plots

Traditional rulers in Bendeghe Ekiem, community in Etung local government area in Cross River State, have warned youths occupying disputed plots of farms  at the government-owned Cocoa Estate to obey a subsisting court order and vacate the farms without delay.

They said defying the order could bring legal consequences for the community.

Chairman of the Crises Management Committee of Mbume Blocks of Clans, Chief Moses Ndep, gave the warning while speaking with journalists yesterday in Bendeghe Ekiem.

The  directive followed the handover of keys to a structure donated by Dr. Oscar Ofuka, former SA on Cocoa Development.

The building will serve as temporary accommodation for Faith Plant Global, the firm handling the 10km Ikom/Obudu road rehabilitation project awarded by the state government.

Ndep who claimed to be among the oldest traditional rulers in Bendeghe Ekiem local government area explained that the cocoa plots were “legally allocated to contractors by the previous administration under a court consent judgement,”and warned that disobedience would make it appear as if the community is resisting a court order.

The conflict dates back to a consent judgement after cocoa landlord communities sued ex-Gov Ben Ayade’s administration for 16 years of unpaid royalties by previous administrations.

To settle it, the previous government leased over 1,000 hectares for 6 years to allottees who paid into accounts of Cross River State Government.

Tension returned when the current administration’s cocoa allocation committee leased the same plots to new allottees. The overlapping claims have already led to tension and pandemonium at the estate according to community accounts.

Ndep appealed to the youths to vacate for the rightful allottees. “I repeat, leave those farms for the rightful allottees, for if they failed to heed, the law would take its course,” he said.