An Abuja Federal High Court yesterday adjourned to January 20 its ruling on whether to stay proceedings in the suit filed by Chief Emmanuel Effiong Etene and seven other Bakassi indigenes against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and others over the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.

The court, presided by Justice Garba Mohammed, had earlier granted an order that status quo should be maintained in the case, but the government went ahead to ceded Bakassi to the Republic of Cameroon on August 14.

While describing the ruling as incompetent, the Federal Government and other respondents had challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter. Counsel to the Federal government, Joe Gadzama (SAN), told the court that there was a pending appeal challenging its earlier ruling that status quo be maintained in the matter, thus on this account cannot proceed.

He said the court ought to have heard the consolidated applications before August 14 due to its urgency. He prayed the court to exercise its powers as if it is sitting on its original jurisdiction and grant an order striking out suit NO/FHC/ABJ/M/143/O8 for want of jurisdiction to hear and determine same.

Counsel to all the applicants/respondents, Kayode Fasetire on the other hand disagreed with Gadzama (SAN), stating that he cannot make two contradictory applications at the same time.

He said since he is opposing the jurisdiction of the court, he cannot at the same time ask the court to stay proceedings.

But Gadzama (SAN) noted that it is at the court's discretion to grant his application and that he had argued his motion on stay of proceedings before the motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.

The People of Bakassi had gone to court asking that the remaining part of Bakassi should not be handed over to Cameroon because the area constitutes their ancestral heritage and harbors the natural resources from which they make a living; they also stated that there was no ready resettlement area for them as claimed.