Lagos — The Delta State government has commended the Federal High Court judgment which yesterday in Benin City , Edo State , nullified the ceding of Ugbede community land with about 260 oil wells in Warri North local government area of Delta State to Ondo State .

The Ugbede community had challenged the ceding in court with the case dragging for long before yesterday's verdict that nullified the objections of the Ondo government.

A statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma Djebah, said the Delta State Government "receives with satisfaction and joy" the judgment by Justice Chukwuma Nnamadi which declared the ceding of the communities and about 260 oil wells therein as null, illegal and unconstitutional.

Mr Djebah described the development as a vindication of the stand of the Delta State Government which unequivocally states that Ugbede Community and the oil wells therein were illegally transferred to Ondo State, saying that this was in line with the avowed commitment of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to the principles and application of the Rule of Law in the country.

The statement added: "The Delta State Government has by the judgment of His Lordship, Justice Chukwuma Nnamadi of the Federal High Court, Benin, been vindicated in its position all along that the controversial ceding of the community and its resources to another state was illegal, unconstitutional and therefore null and void."

"Ceding the Ugbede community was, in total violation of Section 8 (2) of the 1999 constitution, which abruptly disjointed the people's ancestral ties, cultural heritage, and economic potentials by the controversial decision and the state government is happy that the judiciary has satisfactorily overturned that earlier decision that ceded the land to Ondo State," the statement said.

"The state government wishes to commend the judiciary for dispensing justice on the matter while praising the patience and maturity of the people of the affected community whose belief and faith in the rule of law has paid off eventually. The State Government also wishes to commend our team of lawyers, especially Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) for their doggedness in the pursuit of justice and the Rule of Law."