Bayelsa, Rivers boundary dispute deepens

The cold war between Bayelsa and Rivers states over the Soku Oil Fields has deepened as there were indication on Thursday that Rivers had dragged Bayelsa to court.
The states have been at daggers drawn over the ownership of the oil fields bordering Oluasiri in Nembe Local Government of Bayelsa State and Soku in Akuku-Toru Local Government of Rivers State.
Our correspondent gathered that the Government of Rivers State took the matter to the Federal High Court.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson confirmed that Rivers had taken the matter to court.
He identified the chiefs and principal members of Akuku-Toru as the plaintiffs in the suit just as he named the National Boundary Commission and Bayelsa State Attorney-General as the defendants.
He said Rivers in the suit prayed the court to declare River Santa Barbara as the boundary between the Kalabaris in Akuku-Toru and in Nembe .
The plaintiff, he added, sought the court declaration on the 11th edition of the Administrative Map of Nigeria.
Iworiso-Markson said the plaintiff argued that the map was prepared in error and its adoption should be declared null and void.
But Bayelsa State Government accused Rivers State of abuse of judicial process.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Francis Egele, who was quoted in the statement, said the plaintiffs had no locus standi, arguing that boundary matter involved the states and not the local governments.
He said the Supreme Court had adjudicated on the matter, adding that it was wrong for individuals, groups or state to flout the order of the apex court.