March 07, (THEWILL)- A pro-environmental group, the Coalition Against Illegal Lodging and Mining Activities in Cross River State of Nigeria (CAILAMA-CRS), has raised concern over a Lawyer’s petition against its member, Prince Odey Oyama.
The petition borders on questions the environmentalists raised over the presence of uncertified Chinese Nationals in Effi, Okuni community in Ikom Local Government Area of the state.
The coalition also raised the alarm that the Lawyer, Ichire Imo Okim, had petitioned Oyama to the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja over the threat to his life.
The group in a petition signed by the Executive Director of PADIC-Africa, Dr Martins Egot, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Emmanuel Owan, Prof. Rafael Offiong and 18 others, said for the sake of transparency and justice, all the accusers of Odey Oyama, “be made to come out of the shadows and meet Prince Odey Oyama at the proposed Police Headquarters in Abuja.”
They alleged that “we have received information that Prince Odey Oyama has been invited by the Police headquarters in Abuja for an interview, which is scheduled to be held on Monday, 11th of March 2024.
“Prince Odey Oyama has been leading an environmental campaign against the incursion of uncertified Chinese foreign nationals into Okuni Community in Cross River State of Nigeria.
“And we are convinced that this setup is being organized by local operators who are being paid to confuse the narrative and cover up the tracks for the unlawful entry of the uncertified Chinese foreign nationals into the Okuni Community.
“We expect that the Nigerian Police would not be deceived by the antics of these shadowy agents of the uncertified Chinese foreign nationals who are conducting undisclosed businesses in the Okuni Community”, the group said.
The lawyer, Ichire Imo Okim and the environmentalist have been at loggerheads over time following the alleged invasion of Effi forest by some Chinese nationals.
The Lawyer filed a case with suit HMV/11F/2023/ on behalf of eight other Chiefs of Okuni community against the environmentalist and the State Police, demanding N5 million damages.
Oyama on his part alleged that Okim who is the community lawyer was in cohort with some of the Effi traditional rulers to illegally take over part of the Effi forest located in Okuni community for illegal logging activities with uncertified Chinese nationals.
He also demanded that he produce among others the comprehensive final accounts of all transactions (with all accompanying agreements), the identities and diplomatic certifications of the said Chinese foreign nationals that have been introduced into Effi Community, but have remained undisclosed to the people of Effi community.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
