Former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), has challenged the Supreme Court ruling that stripped Cross River State of its oil-producing status following the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon.
Aondoakaa, who oversaw the Bakassi handover on August 14, 2008, argued that technical evidence at the time showed Calabar retained access to the Atlantic Ocean. He said reports from the Navy, Surveyor-General, and international experts confirmed the state was not landlocked.
“The Navy strongly objected during the handover process, warning that shutting Calabar off from the sea would cripple national security. Based on technical reports, we ensured Calabar remained a littoral state. That was why the Eastern Naval Command in Calabar was never relocated,” Aondoakaa said.
He expressed shock that a 2012 Supreme Court ruling contradicted this, ending Cross River’s oil-producing status. “If Cross River had no access to the Atlantic, the Eastern Naval Command should have been shut down. It remains operational, which shows something is wrong with that decision,” he stated.
Aondoakaa maintained that Cross River, having borne the brunt of the Bakassi handover, was entitled to oil-producing recognition, recalling that seabed minerals, hydrocarbons, and fisheries resources from northern Bakassi were originally earmarked for the state.
While respecting the Supreme Court, he said the issue should be revisited to restore fairness and secure Nigeria’s maritime boundaries. He also highlighted efforts to expand Nigeria’s continental shelf to 350 nautical miles post-Bakassi handover, noting that President Bola Tinubu had revived the process.
Defending Tinubu’s frequent international trips, Aondoakaa said, “Presidential powers are embodied in the individual, not the office location. With technology today, the president can govern from anywhere… Former Presidents Yar’Adua, Jonathan, and Buhari all did the same.” He added that Tinubu’s engagements had boosted investor confidence and raised Nigeria’s foreign reserves to $44 billion.
On Benue politics, Aondoakaa declared his constitutional readiness to contest the governorship, citing threats of violence as a concern. He condemned slogans like “No Alia, No Benue,” warning they undermine democracy, and urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to call supporters to order. He also cautioned against repeating political violence seen in past crises in Tiv and Ondo.
Aondoakaa praised Tinubu’s tolerance of opposition voices and called on Benue politicians to emulate such democratic maturity. “The security agencies should not take these threats lightly. What happened in the past should never be allowed again in Nigeria,” he stressed.
Wale Igbintade
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