Court upholds 1985 law, Say Akirika Obu Belongs to Abia State

A High Court has ruled that Akirika Obu-Ndoki falls under the Ukwa East Local Government Area (LGA) in Abia State, citing the 1985 Boundary Adjustment Act.

The court issued a permanent injunction restraining the Akwa Ibom State government and the Ika LGA from trespassing on the territory in question.

Justice C.C. Adiele in Suit No. HUK/19/2017, rejected the argument that the decree was inoperative due to the absence of survey beacons, stating that the boundaries were clearly defined. The court established that Akirika Obu and Ikot Udo referred to the same community, which is legally assigned to Abia State.

The judge awarded the community 5 million naira in damages for trespass and 400,000 naira in legal costs, noting that Akwa Ibom authorities had continued to act as if the law did not exist.