Supreme Court warns Rivers against building structures on disputed land

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has warned the Rivers State Government against building any structure on the disputed land forcefully acquired from the Bayelsa State Government in the Port Harcourt old GRA.

Bringing up the motion for injunction earlier filed by Bayelsa State Government, the Supreme Court said it would not be able to go ahead with the motion because of the counter affidavit filed in opposition to the motion on notice by Rivers State.

The Supreme Court said it would instead go ahead with the originating summons to enable it to dispense with the matter and deliver judgment in good time.

While adjourning the substantive matter to January 15, 2024 for hearing, the Apex Court cautioned the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, against building of any structure on the disputed land and that Rivers State government stands to forfeit any such building once the judgment is against them.

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The Court also cautioned the Rivers State Attorney-General against carrying out any further acts that will affect the interest of the parties since the matter is now before the Supreme Court.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Bayelsa State, Mr. Biriyai Dambo, SAN stood in for Bayelsa State while his counterpart from Rivers State, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, represented his state.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State had only recently demolished buildings belonging to Bayelsa State Government along Akassa close in the old GRA Port Harcourt and immediately revoked the allocation of land.

This development made Bayelsa State Government to approach the Supreme Court in a move to recover its property from her sister state of Rivers.

Political watchers have linked the forceful takeover of the Bayelsa land by Wike to political vendetta against Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State because of his failed PDP Presidential ambition.