President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday set up a panel to consider the possibilities of seeking a review of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun in 2002.The decision was reached at a meeting at the Presidential Villa attended by all stakeholders in including the leadership of the National Assembly, top government functionaries and leaders of the affected communities.Nigeria has only five days to re-open its case under Article 61 of the ICJ statute of 1946 in respect of the Bakassi Peninsula which the international court ceded to Cameroon on October 10, 2002.The ICJ delivered its judgment, finding (based principally on the Anglo-German agreements) that sovereignty over Bakassi did indeed rest with Cameroun. It instructed Nigeria to transfer possession of the peninsula, but did not require the inhabitants to move or to change their nationality. Cameroun was thus given a substantial Nigerian population and was required to protect their rights, infrastructure and welfare.President Goodluck Jonathan had told the Plenary Session of the United Nations in New York recently that Nigeria will remain committed to all rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in resolving international disputes.But yesterday's resolution suggested that the presidency may have yielded to pressure from many quarters including the Bakassi community and the Nigerian Bar Association, among others to reopen the case on Bakassi following fresh fact that may have been unearthed.The Senate and the House of Representatives also passed separate resolutions two weeks ago, asking the federal government to re-open the ICJ judgment on Bakassi.Briefing newsmen after the meeting, former Attoreny General and Minister of Justice Prince Bola Ajibola said that the meeting raised government concerns for the plight of the Bakassi people, emphasising that the move was intended 'to follow the rule of law, dialogue, diplomacy in ensuring that the people are not wrongly dealt with.'Ajibola said the panel will expedite action on its terms of reference.However, in an interview with Daily Trust last week, former minister of state for justice, Musa Elayo Abdullahi, said the judgment of the ICJ is final, and there is no appeal, but he said a party can go back 'where you discover there are facts not placed on the table earlier.'The former minister who was in the federal cabinet when the case was on at the ICJ and indeed participated in the case, denied that Nigeria did not put up a good showing at the court leading to its defeat by the Cameroonians.Elayo further suggested however that Nigeria could still recover the territory in a short time through diplomatic means since the people are undoubtedly Nigerians.He suggested the involvement of eminent Nigerians like former president Olusegun Obasanjo, General Theophilus Danjuma and General Aliyu Gusau, who he says enjoy enormous goodwill internationally to negotiate on behalf of Nigeria to gain Bakassi back.He said since Cameroon is being backed largely by France on the matter, the involvement of diplomacy which should involved other nations like Britain would go a long way in resolving the dispute as Cameroon is likely to support any suggestion agreed to by France.The stakeholders meeting at the villa which lasted through Wednesday night at the Presidential Villa had in attendance Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and state governors from the south-south region.Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, and the Minister of Justice and AGF, Mohammed Adoke were also in attendance.Also speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Cross River State governor Liyel Imoke, said that the President has shown great leadership quality by convening the meeting and standing firm on some of the decisions taken.He did not disclose the decisions, but said the panel set up by the president would work within a specified time.Some leaders and representatives of selected groups from Bakassi, as well as presidential aides, were also in attendance.A movement called the Bakassi Self-Determination Front in August declared independence from Cameroon, hoisting a flag and setting up an FM radio station.Chairman of Cross River State traditional rulers' council and paramount ruler of Bakassi of LGA, HRH Etim Okon Edet had earlier expressed sadness that the federal government has refused to re-open the case on Bakassi as the opportunity ran.He threatened that if the federal government is not willing and interested in appealing the judgement, it should free the people of Bakassi and grant them the right to control the natural resources available there in order for them to actualize their self-determination.'We know how to confront Cameoun. We can stand on our own. My people want to take their destiny in their own hands', he told Daily Trust on phone.
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