Akwa Ibom Rejects Ekid Land Claims, Upholds Legal Ownership
By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH
Akwa Ibom Government Dismisses Ekid Union Land Claims, Reiterates Legal Ownership
The Akwa Ibom State Government has officially rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union asserting ownership of land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, reaffirming that the state retains legal authority over the site.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Uko Essien Udom, SAN, issued the statement on 6 January 2026, explaining that the clarification is necessary for public interest despite a pending court case initiated by the Ekid group.
Privy Council Judgment and Forest Reserve Status
The government referenced the 1918 Privy Council ruling in Ntiaro and Ikpak v. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, noting that the judgment “did not vest ownership in any ethnic group.” The Attorney-General warned that misrepresentations of the ruling circulating in public “amount to distortion of judicial records.”
He further explained that the land was formally constituted as a forest reserve under Colonial Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, with amendments in 1941, 1955, and 1962, meaning all principal rights were forfeited to the government upon reservation.
Legal Framework Governing Land Ownership
Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the state emphasized that all land in Akwa Ibom is vested in the Governor, held in trust for the benefit of citizens. Accordingly, ancestral or customary claims cannot override constitutional and statutory provisions.
The statement also denied allegations of fraud or misrepresentation in relation to land ownership or investment activities, cautioning that legal action would be taken against individuals spreading false information.
Commitment to National Development
Akwa Ibom reaffirmed support for the Federal Government’s Coastal Highway project, promising “full cooperation, including unhindered access and Right of Way for construction through any part of the state.”
The government concluded by calling on all stakeholders to respect judicial processes and avoid misleading narratives while legal proceedings are ongoing, emphasizing that disputes will be settled through established legal channels.
