The Supreme Court of Nigeria has brought an end to a 29-year legal battle by dismissing an appeal and striking out a N1.4 billion compensation claim against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited over land in Akwa Ibom State.
The unanimous ruling, delivered on Friday, January 30, 2026, upheld the Court of Appeal’s decision, confirming that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear disputes involving land compensation improvements on acquired land.
The apex court clarified that such cases fall under the exclusive authority of State High Courts under the Land Use Act.
The dispute began in 1997 when Obong David Edu and 132 others filed suit against Mobil, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and the Akwa Ibom State Government, seeking compensation for community land allegedly acquired without proper payment.
The claimants, representing the Ekid people of Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas, initially demanded N379,988,000 plus interest.
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In March 2014, the Federal High Court ruled in their favor and awarded the full sum.
Mobil appealed, and in July 2018, the Court of Appeal set aside the judgment, ruling that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction.
The claimants subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court.
By dismissing the appeal, the Supreme Court nullified the previous award and conclusively ended the nearly three-decade-long dispute, establishing a clear precedent on court jurisdiction in land compensation matters.