THE Nigerian government is currently exploring possible options towards appealing the judgment that awarded the Bakassi Penninsula to the Cameroun government.
To this end, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the constitution of a committee to look into the matter, after a marathon meeting that lasted from Wednesday into Thursday morning.
Among those present at the meeting was Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke, whose state was affected by the pronouncement of the International Court of Justice whose judgment awarded the Peninsula to Cameroun.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Mr. Imoke said an October 9 deadline has been set for the committee to come up with a plan to appeal the judgment. He declined to disclose who the other contributors at the meeting at Abuja were.
Nigeria fully complied with the International Court’s judgment of October 10, 2002, a move that ensured a smooth transfer of the oil rich peninsula from Nigeria to Cameroun. Despite the judgment, most Bakassi people still consider Nigeria as home. Prominent among them is Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, a serving member of the Upper House of the National Assembly.
Present at the meeting were high level officials of government, including Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio.
Commending the government for the move to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity, a former federal attorney-general and justice minister at the meeting, Mr. Bola Ajibola, said it was a positive development worthy of emulation by foreign governments that Nigeria is towing the path of diplomacy and due process to see that justice is done.
The senate president, Mr. David Mark, also expressed confidence in the process, especially as the executive arm of government is in now agreement with the legislature on the matter.
Sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi, a People’s Democratic Party Senator representing Bauchi Central, the senate had reignited the issue last week, when it made adtopted resolution to have the government revisit the issue following what it cited as emerging facts on the matter.