Land Dispute: Supreme Court Ends 29-Year Battle, Voids N1.4bn Claim Against Mobil

Wale Igbintade

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal challenging the jurisdictional decision of the Court of Appeal, Calabar Division, thereby striking out a N1.4 billion compensation suit filed against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited over the alleged acquisition of community land in Akwa Ibom State.

In a unanimous judgement delivered on January 30, 2026, the apex court held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain claims relating to land disputes and compensation arising from compulsory acquisition and unexhausted improvements.

It ruled that such matters fall squarely within the exclusive jurisdiction of State High Courts under the Land Use Act.

The appeal arose from a suit instituted in 1997 by His Royal Highness, Obong David Edu, and 132 others at the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division.

The claimants sued Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, now Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the Government of Akwa Ibom State, seeking compensation on behalf of themselves and the Ekid people of Eket and Esit Eket local government areas for land allegedly compulsorily acquired by the state government.

They claimed the sum of N379,988,000, with interest from July 30, 1997, as compensation for the alleged acquisition and for purported unexhausted improvements on the land.

In March 2014, the Federal High Court ruled in favour of the claimants, awarding the full sum of N379,988,000 with interest at 10 per cent per annum from April 8, 1998, until liquidation of the judgement debt.

Mobil challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal, Calabar Division.

In a unanimous judgement delivered on July 13, 2018, the appellate court allowed the appeal and set aside the Federal High Court’s judgement, holding that it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on land-related compensation claims.

Dissatisfied, the claimants further appealed to the Supreme Court.

However, the apex court upheld the arguments of Mobil’s counsel, Ituah Imhanze, and dismissed the appeal in its entirety.

The court reaffirmed settled jurisprudence that claims for compensation arising from compulsory acquisition of land and unexhausted improvements are matters reserved for State High Courts, not the Federal High Court.

The Supreme Court’s ruling effectively affirms the decision of the Court of Appeal and nullifies the N379.9 million award earlier granted by the Federal High Court.

Dr. Okiemute Akpomudge of Albert Akpomudge, SAN, represented the NNPC, while J. Jerome Akpan appeared for the Government of Akwa Ibom State.

The appellants were represented by Ekom Nwoko.

With this decision, the Supreme Court has brought to an end a protracted dispute spanning nearly three decades and traversing three tiers of court, while reinforcing the constitutional and statutory limits of court jurisdiction in land and compensation matters.