National Security & Intelligence
The welfare of the people of Bakassi would remain the priority of government –President Yar’Adua
Aug 13, 2008, 12:42
| | President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has stated that the welfare of the people of Bakassi as bona fide citizens of Nigeria who have found themselves in a territory legally given to another country has been of concern to him and will be a priority of his government.
The President’ spokesperson Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, who made the disclosure on Tuesday August 12 in Abuja stated that though the hand-over process of the territories is painful to all, it is “a commitment we have made to the international community and we have a responsibility to keep it."
According to him, the welfare of the people would remain the priority of the President and assured that those to be affected would get maximum comfort.
He announced the release of about N3 billion by the federal government for their resettlement while another N1 billion was released for those in Borno State who lost territories to Chad in the same International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling.
Mr Adeniyi said the hand-over of Bakassi would go on, as there are no legal encumbrances as many imagine. He noted that the recent court ruling, which restrained the Federal Government from going ahead with the hand-over, does not encumber the government adding that the Minister of Justice will rely on the March 19, 2004 ruling of the Federal High Court delivered by Justice S.J. Adah.
Justice Adah had ruled that since ICJ had determined the issue, the decision binds all sovereign states that are members of the United Nations and no forum domesticum of member states can assume jurisdiction to review again what the ICJ has decided.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, would formalize the Hand over of Bakassi on August 14.
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