The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice sitting in Abuja has adjourned to October 12, 2016, the case between some leaders of the Niger Delta Region and the Federal Government over the right to allocate oil block to individuals in the country without the consent of the indigenous owners.

The plaintiffs in the Suit No.ECW/CCJ/APP/20/15 are Mr. Nosa Ehanire-Osaghae, Jonah Gbemre, Aiko Obobaifo and Daniel Ikponmwosa, suing on behalf of themselves and the people of Niger Delta, asking the court to stop the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Defendant) from the allocation of oil block to individual Nigerians.

When the case came up on Monday for hearing, the Federal Government and their defence counsel failed to appear in court to enter their plea.

Barrister Sophia Okoedion, counsel to the plaintiffs, however, urged the panel of three justices led by Justice Nwoke to strike out the plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment that was earlier filed against the defendant when the defendant had failed to respond to the application originating the process within the stipulated 30 days limit, seeing that the defendant had already filed a motion for extension of time to file their defence out of time, and their statement of defence in response to the plaintiffs’ application.

The International Court made an order for the plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment to be withdrawn.

Consequently, the counsel to the plaintiffs in her argument moved that the Honorable Court should commence proceedings in spite of the “conspicuously inexplicable” absence of the defendant who ought to know better than to refrain from appearing before such an eminent court in such a sensitive matter.

Justice Nwoke, the presiding judge, after hearing the averment of the plaintiffs’ counsel held that for the sake of justice and fair hearing, the defendant should be given another opportunity to appear in court and adjourned the case to October 12 for hearing to commence after the honourable court resumes from its two months vacation.

Speaking to journalists soon after the adjournment, Barrister Okoedion, the human rights lawyer, affirmed her clients’ confidence in the ECOWAS Court as an established defender of the human rights of citizens.

She added that the African Union Charter (Article 21) and United Nations Covenant (Article 1) to which the Federal Republic of Nigeria is signatory bound makes it explicitly clear that the natural resources of the Niger Delta belongs exclusively to the people of the Niger Delta. Therefore, if a member state signs the treaty, then that member state must submit to the treaty. (Independent)

•Photo shows ECOWAS Court.