The Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained the Federal Government and its agencies from ceding 17 oil wells to Imo State.
The oil wells are located in Akri and Mgbede communities where their boundaries are being disputed by the Rivers and Imo State governments.
The order of injunction was granted to stop a purported implementation of the ceding of the oil wells to Imo State pending the determination of a suit brought before the apex court by the Rivers State government.
Dez Mayorz Media reported that Imo state will recover over 43 oil wells from Rivers State to make Imo state the 4th largest oil producing state.
The oil wells are domiciled in Imo State but wrongly allocated to Rivers State as a result, boundary disputes rose.
In a chamber ruling this Wednesday, on an ex-parte application argued by Emmanuel Ukala, the lawyer to Rivers State, the Supreme Court restrained the Attorney General of Federation and the Attorney General of Imo State who are the 1st and 2nd defendants from taking any further action on the ownership of the oil wells until the dispute is resolved.
Also barred by the order “from approving, implementing or giving effect in any manner” in a letter from RMAFC office with refence number RMC/O&G/47/1/264, are the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
The apex court has fixed September 21 for the hearing of the substantive suit.
The Imo State Government led by Governor Hope Uzodimma said that he has recovered 43 Oil Wells formerly owned by Imo State but was ceded Rivers State wrongly and evily.
Inline with the 3R mantra, the State Government through the Deputy Governor, Professor Placid Njoku, who by virtue of the constitution is in charge of boundary dispute in synergy with the coordinator of Petroleum and Gas matters to Governor Hope Uzodimma, swung into action in making efforts to return the 43 Oil Wells back to Imo State.
According to the Coordinator for Petroleum and Gas Matters to the Governor, Mr. Goodluck Opiah, the Oil Wells were recovered from Mgbede field in Ohaji Egbema Local Government and Akri field in Oguta Local Government, respectively.
The recovered 43 Oil Wells signifies the readiness of Governor Hope Uzodimma in correcting the anomalies of the previous administration and moreso, it would increase drastically the revenue of the State, says Opiah.
With this development, Imo State would now rank the 4th largest Oil producing State in the country and in turn, have it’s economy boosted.
Many Imolites have expressed happiness on these recoveries especially on the effect it would have on the State’s economy.
