Cocoa Devt:Ex agric commissioner sheds light on royalty payment
The immediate past commissioner for agriculture in Cross River State Oliver Orok has explained that payment of royalties on the state’s Cocoa estates were based on court judgments.
Orok disclosed this in Calabar while speaking on certain misconceptions surrounding Cocoa allocation and royalty payments in the state.
In his words, “In terms of the communities royalties were paid, the Special Adviser cocoa development and Control acted according to court instructions which directed that payment be paid via Smartgov platform.
“He showed me court papers just as I assumed office as commissioner, and I worked with him, under that arrangement as agreed by land lord
communities, and I went with him to Ikom Local Government Area to ensure that I addressed the matter.
“The land lord communities chairman spoke elaborately on the matter saying that he has begun receiving the alerts”, the former Agriculture commissioner said.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Etung Cocoa Landlords Communities Committee, in Cross River State Rtd. AIG Njar Ngor, confirmed that the landlord communities have started receiving their royalties.
Oracle Today reports that one of the judgments is in Suit No. HM/73/2020 presided over by Justice Eno Ebri at the High Court of Cross River State holden at Ikom.
In the judgment, Justice Ebri held in part that the 32 hectares of Abonita Cocoa Estate allegedly ceeded to a private individual remains the property of the Cross River State government.
She also held that “the rents/royalties will be computer and deducted from the lease fees being paid by the lessees to the Cocoa farms through the SMARTGOV Platform commencing from May, 2022 and same paid directly into s designated ba k account provided by the landlord communities until the arrears are completely defrayed”, the Judge said.
