Cross River: Court Extends Permission for Cocoa Allottees to Continue Operations Until May 6

An additional injunction prohibiting the Cross River State Government from evicting allottees from government-owned cocoa farms has been extended by Justice Amajama Enenji of the Cross River High Court.

Tuesday’s court session in Effraya, Etung Local Government Area, Cross River State, saw her issue the injunction.

The current Bassey Otu administration has tended to defend the actions of the previous government, led by Prof. Ben Ayade, which involved evicting the allottees.

However, Mr. Charles Mgbe and other allottees of 1,415 hectares of cocoa plots sued the state government in suit No. HE/16/2024 over the government’s eviction order.

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The allottees will be permitted to labour on their cocoa estates until May 6, 2024, according to a court judgement.

The allottees will continue to work under the court’s order of injunction while a motion for an interlocutory injunction is being considered.

Mba Ukweni, SAN, the claimants’ attorney, contended that the plantation hectares were legitimately allotted to his clients within the bounds of the law and were necessary for them to carry on farming.

Following agreement by the claimant’s solicitors, Mba Ukweni (SAN), and defendant’s counsel, I.I. Eval Esq., who held a brief, the Effraya court contemplated adjourning the case.