Cross River Cocoa Farmers Granted Reprieve as Court Extends Eviction Restraining Order

News in Brief: - A court in Cross River State, Nigeria has extended a restraining order preventing the eviction of cocoa farmers from a government-owned estate. - The farmers, represented by Mr. Charles Mgbe, are allowed to keep working their land until May 6, 2024. The Cross River State High Court has extended a restraining order preventing the state government from evicting cocoa farmers from a government-owned estate. The court, presided over by Justice Amajama Enenji, ruled in favour of Mr. Charles Mgbe and other cocoa allottees, allowing them to continue working their farms on the 1,415-hectare estate until May 6, 2024. This extension follows an agreement between lawyers representing both parties. [caption id="attachment_9531" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Cross Rivers State Governor, Bassey Otu revoked the licenses of cocoa allotees previously awarded them by the past administration under former governor Ben Ayade.[/caption] Recall that the current administration, led by Governor Otu, formed a committee to investigate the state-owned cocoa estate in Etung LGA in July 2023. This followed concerns about encroachment and unauthorised new farms. The committee assessed the total area currently cultivated while identifying new developments in the past four years. Subsequently, the government requested information from those who previously paid for access to cocoa plots on the estate. Meanwhile, reacting to the decision, Mba Ukweni, lawyer for the cocoa farmers, assured his clients they can continue working the land legally until the court reaches a final decision.