Aondoakaa declares Akwa Ibom–Cross River oil dispute closed, warns against reopening

Aondoakaa declares Akwa Ibom–Cross River oil dispute closed, warns against reopening

Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, has firmly stated that both the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Nigerian Supreme Court have conclusively resolved the longstanding oil boundary dispute between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

He warned that any renewed attempts to reopen the issue are not only legally unfounded but also undermine the authority of domestic and international legal institutions.

Speaking on ARISE News’ Morning Show, Aondoakaa, who served as the chairman of Nigeria’s boundary committee and co-leader of the Green Tree Agreement implementation team, recounted his involvement in the cession of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in line with the 2002 ICJ judgment.

“As chairman of the boundary committee and co-leader of the Green Tree Agreement implementation, I can confirm that the final stage — the Bakassi handover — was completed. The judgment was enforced to the letter,” he said.

Aondoakaa explained that the ICJ ruling effectively stripped Cross River State of its littoral status following the loss of Bakassi, thereby removing its legal entitlement to offshore oil wells. He added that Nigeria’s Supreme Court reinforced this position in two separate rulings, both of which favoured Akwa Ibom State.

“Cross River had its day in court — twice. The decisions were clear, and they were implemented,” he emphasised.

The senior advocate criticised efforts by some political or regional actors to reignite the controversy, describing such moves as baseless and damaging to the rule of law. He noted that Cross River State had failed to present its case during critical meetings convened by the National Boundary Commission (NBC).

“For five days in Calabar, boundary officials waited. No Cross River representative appeared. Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom cooperated and made its case,” he recalled.

According to Aondoakaa, even with the legal advantage clearly in its favour, Akwa Ibom had shown goodwill by offering Cross River a monthly payment of N250 million — a gesture that was accepted at the time as part of an informal settlement.

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He also acknowledged the supportive role played by then-Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, who chaired the Boundary Commission, but noted that the broader consensus among commission members was that Cross River had lost its claims through inaction.

Aondoakaa emphasized the comprehensive execution of the Green Tree Agreement, which involved village realignments and territorial adjustments under the supervision of international observers.

“We had meetings in Switzerland. The process was witnessed and monitored by five global powers. Nigeria honoured its commitment and upheld the rule of law,” he said.

He concluded with a stern warning, urging respect for international treaties and legal finality. According to him, a country like Nigeria, which plays a significant role in regional diplomacy, cannot afford to disregard binding rulings.

“If we cherry-pick which judgments to obey, we lose credibility. We accepted villages returned from Cameroon — we must also accept those ceded,” Aondoakaa asserted.

He reiterated that the Akwa Ibom–Cross River boundary dispute is closed from both legal and diplomatic standpoints, and any attempt to revisit it is “futile, reckless, and irresponsible.”