Saturday, July 18, 2026

Disputed cocoa plots mistakenly ceded to Ogar Assam’s family: Cross River

It further said that facts have now emerged that the 32 hectares of cocoa plots belonged to the state government.

• January 28, 2024
APC guber candidate Bassey Otu
Bassey Otu

The Cross River government says it has withdrawn the disputed 32 hectares of cocoa plots, earlier ceded to one Ogar Assam’s family at Abonita Cocoa Estate in Etung Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The withdrawal is contained in a letter dated January 17, 2024, by the director of agric services, Ogar Etta, and made available to journalists in Calabar on Sunday.

The letter, titled, “Re: Release of Block 7A77, 7B77, 7C77, 8B77, 8C77 Cocoa Farms At Abonita Cocoa Estate to Chief Ogar Assam’s Family”, noted that the said plots were ceded in error and are hereby withdrawn.

The letter stated that it was misguided and misinformed about the disputed cocoa plots ceded to the Assam family through a letter dated December 5, 2023.

It further said that facts have now emerged that the 32 hectares of cocoa plots belonged to the state government.

“The decision is consequent upon the misguided facts during information gathering in some of the documents provided by Mac Prince Mbu Leku.

“The desire to withdraw the ceded blocks also followed the presentation of facts by landlords in the communities in a meeting scheduled on December 12, 2023, with the intention of the Attorney General of Cross River State to amicably resolve the impasse in suit NO.HE/18/2022.

“Further clarification also came from the director of forestry in his letter with Ref No.CRSFC/S4/V3/315.

“To this end, blocks 7A77, 7B77, 7C77, 8B77, and 8C77, totalling 32 hectares of land, are still vested in the government of Cross River State as they were ceded in error to Ogar Assam’s family.

“Similarly, the Commissioner for Lands, in a letter with Ref No. MLH/ADS/670/Vol.I/18 said that records from the ministry do not in any way show that the Cross River State government acquired land from any family to establish Abonita Cocoa Estate,” the withdrawal letter maintained.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Gardens

Agriculture

Stakeholders seek plant-based protein policies to boost food security

She said plant-based proteins were critical to building sustainable food systems.

States

Edo security squad nabs 12 suspected cultists in Benin

He said the suspects had been handed over to the police for further investigation.

PCRC

Heading 4

PCRC partners police on safe school programme

The police spokesman commended the PCRC leadership for hosting him.

Taraba State

Heading 5

Taraba: LG boss revokes indigeneship certificates

Mr Yusuf said the action became necessary following the introduction of a redesigned certificate.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in Abuja

NationWide

Military rescued over 40 victims, arrested more than 20 terrorists in one week: DHQ

Mr Onoja disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja in a statement on military operations nationwide.

Messi, Yamal, Merlin the duck, Curaçao players

Sport

Curaçao, Merlin the duck, red card withdrawal, Messi vs Yamal, other major highlights of 2026 World Cup

From June 11 to July 19, when the final will be played, the 2026 World Cup brought together 48 nations.