The Calabar-based human rights lawyer, Ntufam Mba Ukweni, has issued a stern warning to the Cross River State attorney-general, Mr Ededem Ani. Ukweni, a senior advocate, is demanding that Ani retract a statement made against him within a week.
The ultimatum is a direct response to a statement made by Ani, which Ukweni's law firm considers defamatory. As part of the dispute, Ukweni's law firm has inaugurated a task force to enforce a court order related to the government-owned Cocoa Estate.
The task force is expected to take decisive action to protect the interests of Ukweni and his clients. The clock is ticking, with Ukweni giving Ani exactly seven days to retract the offending statement.
The latest development in the Cocoa Estate dispute is a stark reminder of the need for accountability in Nigeria's justice system. Ntufam Mba Ukweni's firm action against the Cross River State attorney-general, Ededem Ani, raises questions about the AG's role in upholding the law. The fact that Ukweni's law firm has taken the extraordinary step of setting up a task force to enforce a court order highlights the depth of the dispute. The people of Cross River State deserve to know why the government is being dragged to court over the management of the Cocoa Estate. As the deadline for Ani's retraction approaches, it remains to be seen whether the AG will take responsibility for his actions.
